[43]
Now, there are many—and especially those who1
are ambitious for eminence and glory—who rob one
to enrich another; and they expect to be thought
generous towards their friends, if they put them in
the way of getting rich, no matter by what means.
Such conduct, however, is so remote from moral
duty that nothing can be more completely opposed
to duty. We must, therefore, take care to indulge
only in such liberality as will help our friends and
hurt no one. The conveyance of property by Lucius
Sulla and Gaius Caesar from its rightful owners to
[p. 49]
the hands of strangers should, for that reason, not
be regarded as generosity; for nothing is generous,
if it is not at the same time just.
1 Generosity must be (1) hurtful to no one,
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