Seneca's morals - 1803 Author:Lucius Annaeus Seneca Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: A Benefit a common tye. less, I would yet be so kind as to put him in his way, or let him light a candle at mine, or draw water at my well, which may stand hi... more »m, perhaps, in great stead, and yet not be reckoned as a benefit from me; for I do it carelessly, and not for his sake, but my own; as an office of humanity, without any choice or kindness. THE MATTER OF OBLIGATIONS, WITH ITS CIRCUMSTANCES. Next to the choice of the person follows that of the matter, wherein a regard must be had to time, place, proportion, quality, and to the very nicks of opportunity and humour. One man values his peace above his honour; another his honour above his safety ; and not a few there are, that (provided they may save their bodies) never care what becomes of their souls. So that good offices depend much upon construction. Some take themselves to be obliged, when they are not; others will not believe it, when they are; and some again take obligations and injuries, the one for the other. For our better direction let it be noted, that a benefit is a common tye betwixt the giver and the receiver, with a respect to both. Wherefore it must be accommodated to the rules of discretion; for all things have their bounds and measures, "nd so must liberality among the rest, that it be To be suited to the Receiver's condition. neither too much for the one, nor too little for the other, the excess being every jot as bad as the defect. Alexander bestowed a city upon one of his favourites, who modestly excusing himself, that it was too much for him to receive, " Well, but," says Alexander, " it is not too much for me to give." A haughty, certainly, and an imprudent speech; for that which was not fit for the one to take, could not be fit for the other to give. It passes in the world for greatness o...« less