Dost thou love life? Then, do not squander time, for
that is the stuff life is made of!--FRANKLIN.
Franklin not only understood the value of time, but he put a price upon
it that made others appreciate its worth.
A customer who came one day to his little bookstore in Philadelphia,
not being satisfied with the price demanded by the clerk for the book
he wished to purchase, asked for the proprietor. "Mr. Franklin is very
busy just now in the press room," replied the clerk. The man, however,
who had already spent an hour aimlessly turning over books, insisted on
seeing him. In answer to the clerk's summons, Mr. Franklin hurried out
from the newspaper establishment at the back of the store.
"What is the lowest price you can take for this book, sir?" asked the
leisurely customer, holding up the volume. "One dollar and a quarter,"
was the prompt reply. "A dollar and a quarter! Why, your clerk asked me
only a dollar just now." "True," said Franklin, "and I could have
better afforded to take a dollar than to leave my work."
The man, who seemed to be in doubt as to whether Mr. Franklin was in
earnest, said jokingly, "Well, come now, tell me your lowest price for
this book." "One dollar and a half," was the grave reply. "A dollar and
a half! Why, you just offered it for a dollar and a quarter." "Yes, and
I could have better taken that price then than a dollar and a half now."
Without another word, the crestfallen purchaser laid the money on the
counter and left the store. He had learned not only that he who
squanders his own time is foolish, but that he who wastes the time of
others is a thief.