Price or Value 价格或价值

It is quite common that when people come across an attractive item, they naturally ask about it price. The assumption is that the value is measured by price. As a matter of fact, price itself can be misleading.

First, if we always measure something by its price, we become money-oriented. A money-oriented person can easily miss something which is valuable but not measurable by any amount of money. As an example, the value of a loving relationship is not measured by money.

Second, the price of an item may not reflect its value. As a matter of fact, the price of a property is often determined by the market demand, and the price of a commodity fluctuates. Although we can pay a worker according to the person’s qualifications or performance, the value of a man or a woman is priceless and should not be determined by performance or qualifications. Take an example, the value of your spouse or loved one doesn’t change irrespective the person is in sickness or in health.

Apparently, price and value are closely related. However, not every valuable can be measured and be given a price.

当人们看到有吸引力的物品，便自然会问及价格，这是很常见的事。假设任何事物的价值都是以价格来衡量，结果价格本身可能会产生误导。

首先，我们如果总是按价格来衡量东西，我们就会变成以金钱为导向。而一个以金钱为导向的人，结果会很容易错过一些有价值但却无法用金额衡量的东西。例如，爱情的价值是不能用金钱来衡量的关系。

其次，事物的价格可能无法正确反映其价值。事实上，物业的价格通常是由市场需求决定，商品价格也会波动。虽然我们可以根据一个工人的资历或表现支付他的工资，但人本身的价值却是无价的，不应该由表现或资格来衡量其价值。举个例子，你的配偶或亲人的价值無論处于疾病或健康状态都不会改变。

显然，价格和价值虽然密切相关，然而并非所有有价值的东西都可以以价格加以衡量。