Franklin's Whistle

There is an appendix article in Franklin's autobiography called The Whistle, which tells a story. When Franklin was seven years old, on a holiday, his relatives and friends stuffed his pockets with copper coins. I was going to buy toys, but on the way I met a boy playing a whistle. I was attracted by his voice and volunteered to use all my money in exchange for his whistle. Actually paying four times the actual value of the whistle. Franklin always used this story to remind himself not to pay too high a price for the whistle.

I understand that the whistle is the temptation. The impulsive purchase of a whistle is very similar to our current impulsive consumption. As soon as I see a limited-time discounted product, I am eager to buy it, without considering whether I really need it; when I see something free, I never miss the opportunity to make a bargain, believing that a pie will fall from the sky, and I do not consider this free item. How much effort does something take?

Franklin had long had a profound insight into this. He said that he saw some people who were vain, blindly engaged in politics, and neglected their own affairs to the point of bankruptcy; one person gave up kindness for the sake of wealth; Physical pleasures of the senses are sacrificed to health; a man pursues vanity and becomes deeply in debt. These people have paid too much for the whistle.

How to identify whistles and avoid being tempted by whistles. I think we still need to have a firm moral outlook. Only by adhering to integrity and kindness can we make the right choice when we are tempted.

Of course, it is difficult to completely eliminate whistles, and Franklin himself could not completely achieve it. Therefore, we should be more tolerant towards those who pay the price for whistles. Maybe that person is you. Own.