本杰明·富兰克林/Benjamin Franklin
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, free 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.
七岁时，有一次放假，朋友们给了我很多铜币，塞了满满一口袋。于是，我便直奔一家儿童玩具专卖店。路上，我被一个男孩手中哨子的哨音吸引住了，于是，我主动提出用我所有的铜币换他的哨子。我很得意，一回到家里，就吹着哨子满世界跑，但这哨音打扰了家人。哥哥、姐姐和表亲们得知我做的这笔交易后，就告诉我，我付了四倍于哨子价值的钱。他们说我多付的钱可以买好多好东西，还笑话我竟然做出这等蠢事。我懊恼得哭了起来，这件事带给我的苦恼多于快乐。
不过，这件事一直留在我的记忆中，对我今后的人生益处良多。从那以后，每当我想去买一些不必要的东西时，总对自己说：不要为哨子付出太多。于是，我便省下了钱。
长大后，进入社会，遇到了很多人。我观察着人们的行为，最后发现，他们都为自己的哨子付出了过高的代价。
当我看见一个人过分热衷于攀附权贵，把时间都花在谋求接见之中，而不惜牺牲自己的睡眠、自由、德行甚至朋友时，我便对自己说，这个人为了他的哨子付出了昂贵的代价。
当我看见另一个人醉心于名望，一次次地投身于政界的纷扰繁杂之中，忽视了自己的分内之事，最后因这种忽视而毁了自己时，我说，他确实为他的哨子付出了昂贵的代价。
当我得知一个守财奴为了积累财富，宁愿放弃舒适的生活、行善的乐趣、同胞的尊重和友爱带来的欢愉时，我会说，可怜的人啊，为了他的哨子，他付出了昂贵的代价。
当我遇到一个沉湎于享乐，为了追求肉体上的享受，牺牲一切精神或物质上值得称道的改进，甚至不惜毁掉自己的健康时，我要说，误入歧途的人啊，他是有福不享，自讨苦吃，为了他的哨子，他付出了昂贵的代价。
当我看到一个人追求外表，或沉迷于精致的服装、豪华的住宅、富丽的家具、漂亮的马车；以致入不敷出、债台高筑，最后锒铛入狱时，我说，天哪！为了他的哨子，他付出了如此昂贵的代价。
当我看到一个美丽动人、性情温顺的女孩，嫁给一个粗野、残忍的丈夫时，我说，真是可惜，为了她的哨子，她付出了昂贵的代价。
总之，我认为，人类遭受的不幸很大一部分都是由于他们对事物的价值作出错误的评估所造成的，他们为自己的哨子付出了过高的代价。
心灵小语
生活是一首和弦曲，只有各种音符的默契配合才可能奏出悦耳的音乐，而每个音符停留的时间要依这首曲子的整体效果而定。生命中每个人都有各种欲望、期待和理想，它们正如这些音符，只有准确衡量其轻重缓急，为其支付等值的钞票，才可能使这首生命之曲悦耳动听。
词汇笔记
voluntarily ['vl?nt?rili] adv. 自动地；自发地
例 The reactionary classes never give up power voluntarily.
反动阶级从来不会自动放弃政权。
disturbing [di'st?:bi?] v. 打扰；妨碍；弄乱
例 They were charged with disturbing the peace.
他们被指控犯了扰乱治安罪。
bargain ['b:in] n. 协议；交易
例 He drove a hard bargain.
他拼命地讨价还价。
vexation [vek'sei??n] n. 懊恼；烦恼
例 Surety, humour is the saving grace of us, for without it we should die of vexation.
毫无疑问，幽默是帮助我们摆脱烦恼的唯一办法，要是没有它，我们将死于烦恼。
小试身手
有一次放假，朋友们给了我很多铜币，塞了满满一口袋。
译_______________
每当我想去买一些不必要的东西时，总对自己说：不要为哨子付出太多。
译_______________
我认为，人类遭受的不幸很大一部分都是由于他们对事物的价值作出错误的评估所造成的。
译_______________
短语家族
……and being charmed with the sound of a whistle……
be charmed with：醉心于……；被……迷住
造_______________
……when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don't give too much for the whistle.
be tempted to：受**做某事
造_______________