Do not pay too much for the whistle

Greetings all,

Have you ever known or heard of someone who devotes time, money or other resource to something that in your mind just wasn't worth it? Sometimes, you just ask yourself "do they really have any concept of value?" I am sure you have and do because everybody, whether they realize it or not, "pays" for everything, be it good or bad. If you take that vacation you pay time and money. If you save up a rainy day fund you pay by giving up the luxuries you might otherwise have been inclined too. When you devote yourself completely to your job so that it and your future are secure and comfortable you pay by giving up involvement with your family and community. Whatever it is, good or bad, we pay for everything. It seems to be common sense, but far too many people have no concept of value and as a result they pay far more than something is worth. On this matter Benjamin Franklin shared much wisdom in a letter written to Madame Brillon in 1779.

"I am charmed with your description of Paradise, and with your plan of living there; and I approve much of your conclusion, that, in the meantime, we should draw all the good we can from this world. In my opinion we might all draw more good from it than we do, and suffer less evil, if we would take care not to give too much for whistles. For to me it seems that most of the unhappy people we meet with are become so by neglect of that caution.

You ask what I mean? You love stories, and will excuse my telling one of myself.

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.

This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.

As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.

When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, this man gives too much for his whistle.

When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect, "He pays, indeed," said I, "too much for his whistle."

If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, "Poor man," said I, "you pay too much for your whistle."

When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, "Mistaken man," said I, "you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle."

If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, "Alas!" say I, "he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle."

When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, "What a pity," say I, "that she should pay so much for a whistle!"

In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles."

I discovered this letter when reading an article on personal finance management from The Art of Manliness that I also pass on with my recommendation. I believe Mr. Franklin frames the issues wonderfully and no doubt I will find the phrase "will I pay too much for this whistle?" running through my mind many times in the future. As a young man in my early independent professional life, the impulse to make quick decisions without fully considering their consequences, and then to not go back and review my decisions after they are made to see if they still make sense, is very strong, so a call for caution is very beneficial.

God bless and veritas supra omnis!