the order of the universe bring round the seasons? for what does
the sun make the day now longer and now shorter? all these things
are benefits, for they take place for our good. As it is the duty
of the universe to maintain the round of the seasons, as it is the
duty of the sun to vary the points of his rising and setting, and
to do all these things by which we profit, without any reward, so
is it the duty of man, amongst other things, to bestow benefits.
Wherefore then does he give? He gives for fear that he should not
give, lest he might lose an opportunity of doing a good action.

XIII. You Epicureans take pleasure in making a study of dull
torpidity, in seeking for a repose which differs little from sound
sleep, in lurking beneath the thickest shade, in amusing with the
feeblest possible trains of thought that sluggish condition of your
languid minds which you term tranquil contemplation, and in
stuffing with food and drink, in the recesses of your gardens, your
bodies which are pallid with want of exercise; we Stoics, on the
other hand, take pleasure in bestowing benefits, even though they
cost us labour, provided that they lighten the labours of others;
though they lead us into danger, provided that they save others,
though they straiten our means, if they alleviate the poverty and
distresses of others. What difference does it make to me whether I
receive benefits or not? even if I receive them, it is still my
duty to bestow them. A benefit has in view the advantage of him
upon whom we bestow it, not our own; otherwise we merely bestow it
upon ourselves. Many things, therefore, which are of the greatest
possible use to others lose all claim to gratitude by being paid
for. Merchants are of use to cities, physicians to invalids,
dealers to slaves; yet all these have no claim to the gratitude of
those whom they benefit, because they seek their own advantage