Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.
Seneca The YoungerRead
That which is given with pride and ostentation is rather an ambition than a bounty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Generosity should come from humility, not the desire for recognition or status.
This quote by Seneca emphasizes that true generosity is characterized by sincerity and humility, rather than a desire for praise or to elevate one's social standing. When one gives to show off or to gain approval, it reflects a sense of ambition rather than genuine kindness, suggesting that the motivation behind the act of giving is as important as the act itself.
Themes
GenerosityHumilityGivingPrideService
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a charity event to remind volunteers of the true essence of giving.
More from Seneca The Younger
All quotes βNo tree becomes rooted and sturdy unless many a wind assails it. For by its very tossing it tightens its grip and plants its roots more securely; the fragile trees are those that have grown in a sunny valley.
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Slavery takes hold of few, but many take hold of slavery.
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To be able to endure odium is the first art to be learned by those who aspire to power.
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Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.
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Loyalty is the holiest good in the human heart.
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