英文原文

做任何事，保持中庸与平常心是很重要的。勤劳、自我要求高原本是美德，但一旦要求到十全十美的程度，就成了苛求，既不能得到修身养性的效果，心情也不会愉快。

Too Dear for the Whistle

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers.

I went at once to a shop where they sold toys for children.

Being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I had seen by the way,
in the hands of another boy, I handed over 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, when I told of the bargain I had made,
said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth.

They put me in mind of 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.

Thinking about the matter gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure. This, however, was afterwards of use to me, for the impression continued on my mind, so that often, when I was tempted to buy something I did not need, 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”.
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 friendship, for the sake of gathering and keeping wealth—“Poor man,” said I, “you pay too dear for your whistle.”
When I met a man of pleasure, who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time, perhaps neglecting his health,

“Mistaken man,” said I,
“you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you are paying too dear for your whistle.”

If I saw someone fond of appearance who had fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine earrings, all above his fortune, and for which he had run into debt, “Alas,” said I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.”

In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their putting a false value on things—to giving “too much for their whistles”.

重点词汇

1. charmed with adj. 着迷的；喜悦的

I was so charmed with the gracefulness of his figure and delivery, as well as the discourses he pronounced.
他的优美姿态和伶俐口齿以及他发表的演说是那样的使我着迷。

She was charmed with the beautiful scene.
她陶醉在美景中。

2. bargain n. 交易；契约；特价商品

We refuse to bargain over the price.
我们拒绝在价格上讨价还价。

No, I got a real bargain on it.
不，我得到一个真正的廉价交易。

3. folly n. 愚蠢；荒唐事；讽刺剧

And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
我便看出智慧胜过愚昧，如同光明胜过黑暗。

I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.
我宁愿要愚蠢的热情，也不愿要冷漠的智慧。

4. chagrin n. 懊恼；委屈；气愤

He noted with chagrin how little hair clung to his head.
他苦恼地发现原来他头上的毛发是那麽的稀疏。

His increasingly visible chagrin sets up a vicious circle .
他的明显的不满引起了一种恶性循环。