face, and with unkind words, of which he seemed to grudge the
utterance. Yet no one is glad to owe what he has not so much
received from his benefactor, as wrung out of him. Who can be
grateful for what has been disdainfully flung to him, or angrily
cast at him, or been given him out of weariness, to avoid further
trouble? No one need expect any return from those whom he has tired
out with delays, or sickened with expectation. A benefit is
received in the same temper in which it is given, and ought not,
therefore, to be given carelessly, for a man thanks himself for
that which he receives without the knowledge of the giver. Neither
ought we to give after long delay, because in all good offices the
will of the giver counts for much, and he who gives tardily must
long have been unwilling to give at all. Nor, assuredly, ought we
to give in offensive manner, because human nature is so constituted
that insults sink deeper than kindnesses; the remembrance of the
latter soon passes away, while that of the former is treasured in
the memory; so what can a man expect who insults while he obliges?
All the gratitude which he deserves is to be forgiven for helping
us. On the other hand, the number of the ungrateful ought not to
deter us from earning men's gratitude; for, in the first place,
their number is increased by our own acts. Secondly, the sacrilege
and indifference to religion of some men does not prevent even the
immortal gods from continuing to shower their benefits upon us: for
they act according to their divine nature and help all alike, among
them even those who so ill appreciate their bounty. Let us take
them for our guides as far as the weakness of our mortal nature
permits; let us bestow benefits, not put them out at interest. The
man who while he gives thinks of what he will get in return,
deserves to be deceived. But what if the benefit turns out ill?
Why, our wives and our children often disappoint our hopes, yet we