Page:Way to wealth, or, Poor Richard's maxims improved, &c..pdf/17

Rh When I meet a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to meet corporeal sensations: Mistaken man, says I, you are providing pain for yourself instead of pleasure, you give too much for your whistle.

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

When I see a beautiful sweet tempered girl married to an ill-natured husband; What a pity it is, says I, that she has paid so much for a whistle!

In short, I conceived that great part of the miseries of mankind were brought upon them by the false estimates they had made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistle.

If you wish to be always thirsty, be a drunkard; for the oftener and more you drink, the oftener and more thirsty you will be.

If you seek to prevent your friends from raising you in the world, be a drunkard; for that will defeat all their efforts.

If you would effectually counteract your own attempts to do well, bobe [sic] a drunkard; and you will not be disappointed.