故事发生在我7岁那年。因为是假日，我的口袋被几位朋友塞满了铜币。我赶忙向一家儿童玩具店跑去。在去商店的路上，我看到一个小男孩手中拿着一只哨子。他吹出的哨音委婉动听，我情不自禁地着迷了。于是，我来到商店，掏出所有的钱买了一只哨子。然后，回到家后，我便吹着哨子四处游荡。我对自己的哨子爱不释手，而全家人却因为哨声痛苦不堪。我的哥哥、姐姐、堂兄、堂姐、表兄、表姐得知了我买哨子的价钱后，告诉我，我买这只哨子多花了三倍的价钱，还告诉我用那些剩下的钱可以买到哪些好东西，并肆意地嘲笑我的愚蠢。我懊恼地哭了起来。这件事带给我的苦恼远多于哨子带给我的快乐。
不过，这件事一直留在我的记忆中，给我日后的人生带来了很多益处。从那以后，每当我想去买一些不必要的东西时，就对自己说，不要为哨子支付太多金钱，于是我便能省下钱来。
长大后，步入社会，我遇到了很多人，观察了人们的行为，最后我发现，他们都为自己的哨子付出了过高的代价。
当我看见一个过分热衷于趋炎附势，为寻求会见而不惜牺牲自己的睡眠、自由、德行甚至朋友的人时，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，一次又一次投身于政界的纷扰之中，忽视了自己的份内之事，最后因这种忽视而毁了自己的人生时，我说，他确实为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，为了哨子你付出了昂贵的代价。
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的人时，我说，误入歧途的人啊，你是有福不享，自讨苦吃，为了哨子，你付出了昂贵的代价。
当我看到一个人追求外表的东西，或沉迷于精致的服装、豪华的住宅、富丽的家具、漂亮的马车，入不敷出、债台高筑，最后被投进监狱时，我说，天啊！为了哨子，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，为了哨子，她付出了昂贵的代价。
总之，我认为，人类所遭受的大部分的不幸，都是因为他们对事物的价值作出了错误的评估，是因为他们为哨子付出了过高的代价。
再见，我亲爱的朋友。请相信，我永远是你真诚的朋友，对你的情感持久不变。
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我们中有太多人为了那只“哨子”，付出了过高的代价，遭受了不幸。看过这篇文章，相信你和我一样，下次在作决定之前，先要想想这件事值不值得我们付出时间、精力和金钱。
哨 子（2）
The Whistle
Benjamin Franklin
I received my dear friend’s two letters； one for Wednesday and one for Saturday。 This is again Wednesday。 I do not deserve one for today； because I have not answered the former。 But； indolent as I am； and averse to writing； the fear of having no more of your pleasing epistles； if I do not contribute to the correspondence； obliges me to take up my pen； and as Mr。 B。 has kindly sent me word that he sets out tomorrow to see you； instead of spending this Wednesday evening； as I have done its namesakes； in your delightful pany； I sit down to spend it in thinking of you； in writing to you； and in reading over and over again your letters。
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 mean time； 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 bee 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 reflections gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure。
This； however； was afterward 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。
哨 子（3）
If I knew a miser； who gave up every kind of fortable 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。
Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people； when I consider that； with all this wisdom of which I am boasting； there are certain things in the world so tempting； for example； the apples of King John； which happily are not to be bought； for if they were put to sale by auction； I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase； and find that I had once more given too much for the whistle。
Adieu； my dear friend； and believe me ever yours very sincerely and with unalterable affection。
论自助（1）
＇美国＇拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生
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拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生（1803—1882），美国思想家、诗人、散文家。生于波士顿的牧师家庭，毕业于波士顿拉丁学校和哈佛大学。21岁时成为神职人员，不久便对基督教产生怀疑，1832年辞职远游，遍访欧洲文化名人。曾经深入研究过荷马、柏拉图、但丁、蒙田和莎士比亚。代表作有《论自然》《美国学者》《神学院致辞》《散文选》《诗集》等。
人是自己的明星，灵魂可以塑造出一个诚实而完美的人。
他掌控所有光明、所有势力、所有命运。一切境遇都会来得恰如其时。
如果我们的行为是慈善的，就是我们的天使，
如果是邪恶的，就是从我们身旁静静走过的勾命阎罗。
——波蒙和弗莱契《老实人的命运·尾声》
前几天，我读了几首诗，诗的作者是一位杰出的画家。它们立意新奇，却不庸俗。字里行间总能听到一种告诫。先不说题材怎样，诗句慢慢灌输的情操，要比它包含的任何思想都有价值。相信你自己的观点，相信你内心深处的真理是适用于所有人的真理——这就是天赋。说出你藏匿在心里的想法，它能成为一种普遍的认识。因为最内在的东西适当地成为了最外在的东西。我们最初的思想会清晰地将最后的结果反馈给我们。就像每个人都对心灵的声音非常熟悉一样，我们认为摩西、柏拉图和弥尔顿最大的功绩就在于他们蔑视书本和传统，不发表别人的言论，只说出自己的思想。一个人不应关注诗人和圣人天空里的光彩，而应学会察觉并观察从心灵滑过的微弱光芒。然而，他没能注意自己的思想，因为那是他自己的东西。在天才的每一部作品中，我们都能发现被我们忽视了的思想，它们带着某种疏离的威严回到我们身边。伟大的艺术作品给我们的教益也就这些。它们教导我们：在对方高声宣扬自己的观点时，我们要坚定地坚持我们自己的思想。否则，明天一位陌生人高明地说的观点，将正好是我们一直所想、所感的东西，而且我们被迫从别人那里获得自己的观点，并感到羞辱。
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