[69]
20. Now in rendering helpful service to people, 1
we usually consider either their character or their
circumstances. And so it is an easy remark, and
one commonly made, to say that in investing kindnesses we look not to people's outward circumstances, but to their character. The phrase is
admirable! But who is there, pray, that does not in
performing a service set the favour of a rich and influential man above the cause of a poor, though most
worthy, person? For, as a rule, our will is more inclined to the one from whom we expect a prompter
and speedier return. But we should observe more
carefully how the matter really stands: the poor man
of whom we spoke cannot return a favour in kind, of
course, but if he is a good man he can do it at least
in thankfulness of heart. As someone has happily
said, “A man has not repaid money, if he still has it;
if he has repaid it, he has ceased to have it. But a
man still has the sense of favour, if he has returned
the favour; and if he has the sense of the favour, he
has repaid it.”
On the other hand, they who consider themselves
wealthy, honoured, the favourites of fortune, do not
wish even to be put under obligations by our kind
services. Why, they actually think that they have
[p. 245]
conferred a favour by accepting one, however great;
and they even suspect that a claim is thereby set up
against them or that something is expected in return.
Nay more, it is bitter as death to them to have
accepted a patron or to be called clients.
1 The basis for personal service is character not fortune.
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