L. Annaeus Seneca On Benefits | Page 8

beaten, and put to sea after we have been shipwrecked. How much
more constancy ought we to show in bestowing benefits! If a man does
not bestow benefits because he has not received any, he must have
bestowed them in order to receive them in return, and he justifies
ingratitude, whose disgrace lies in not returning benefits when able to
do so. How many are there who are unworthy of the light of day? and
nevertheless the sun rises. How many complain because they have been

born? yet Nature is ever renewing our race, and even suffers men to
live who wish that they had never lived. It is the property of a great and
good mind to covet, not the fruit of good deeds, but good deeds
themselves, and to seek for a good man even after having met with bad
men. If there were no rogues, what glory would there be in doing good
to many? As it is, virtue consists in bestowing benefits for which we
are not certain of meeting with any return, but whose fruit is at once
enjoyed by noble minds. So little influence ought this to have in
restraining us from doing good actions, that even though I were denied
the hope of meeting with a grateful man, yet the fear of not having my
benefits returned would not prevent my bestowing them, because he
who does not give, forestalls the vice of him who is ungrateful. I will
explain what I mean. He who does not repay a benefit, sins more, but
he who does not bestow one, sins earlier.
"If thou at random dost thy bounties waste, Much must be lost, for one
that's rightly placed."
II. In the former verse you may blame two things, for one should not
cast them at random, and it is not right to waste anything, much less
benefits; for unless they be given with judgement, they cease to be
benefits, and, may be called by any other name you please. The
meaning of the latter verse is admirable, that one benefit rightly
bestowed makes amends for the loss of many that have been lost. See, I
pray you, whether it be not truer and more worthy of the glory of the
giver, that we should encourage him to give, even though none of his
gifts should be worthily placed. "Much must be lost." Nothing is lost
because he who loses had counted the cost before. The book-keeping of
benefits is simple: it is all expenditure; if any one returns it, that is clear
gain; if he does not return it, it is not lost, I gave it for the sake of
giving. No one writes down his gifts in a ledger, or like a grasping
creditor demands repayment to the day and hour. A good man never
thinks of such matters, unless reminded of them by some one returning
his gifts; otherwise they become like debts owing to him. It is a base
usury to regard a benefit as an investment. Whatever may have been the
result of your former benefits, persevere in bestowing others upon other
men; they will be all the better placed in the hands of the ungrateful,
whom shame, or a favourable opportunity, or imitation of others may
some day cause to be grateful. Do not grow weary, perform your duty,

and act as becomes a good man. Help one man with money, another
with credit, another with your favour; this man with good advice, that
one with sound maxims. Even wild beasts feel kindness, nor is there
any animal so savage that good treatment will not tame it and win love
from it. The mouths of lions are handled by their keepers with impunity;
to obtain their food fierce elephants become as docile as slaves: so that
constant unceasing kindness wins the hearts even of creatures who, by
their nature, cannot comprehend or weigh the value of a benefit. Is a
man ungrateful for one benefit? perhaps he will not be so after
receiving a second. Has he forgotten two kindnesses? perhaps by a
third he may be brought to remember the former ones also.
III. He who is quick to believe that he has thrown away his benefits,
does really throw them away; but he who presses on and adds new
benefits to his former ones, forces out gratitude even from a hard and
forgetful breast. In the face of many kindnesses, your friend will not
dare to raise his eyes; let him see you whithersoever he turns himself to
escape from his remembrance of you; encircle him with your benefits.
As for the power and property of these, I will explain it to you if first
you will allow me to glance at a matter which does not belong