Nov 26 2008
On the cost of free things
Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing.
–Albert Einstein
Do relatives do a favor and then expect repayment in loyalty? Do people accept a free piano, then pay more than its worth to move it?
Somehow, the stuff we get free ends up costing more than we would have been willing to pay. Interesting, isn’t it. We clean out our home to make space, then we fill it up with free stuff that others are cleaning out!
Does Einstein mean that we pay in money? Not necessarily. We pay in time, patience, and yes, in loyalty. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it definitely can cost us.
Perhaps this is one of those quotes that just can’t be clarified with words. We just read it and chuckle, and know just what he meant.
