On Duties Passage 70

At vero ille tenuis, cum, quicquid factum sit, se spectatum, non fortunam putet, non modo illi, qui est meritus, sed etiam illis, a quibus exspectat (eget enim multis), gratum se videri studet neque vero verbis auget suum munus, si quo forte fungitur, sed etiam extenuat. Videndumque illud est, quod, si opulentum fortunatumque defenderis, in uno illo aut, si forte, in liberis eius manet gratia; sin autem inopem, probum tamen et modestum, omnes non improbi humiles, quae magna in populo multitudo est, praesidium sibi paratum vident.

The poor man, by contrast, believes that whatever has been done was done out of regard for himself and not for his fortune. He therefore strives to appear grateful not only to the person who has earned his gratitude, but also to those from whom he hopes for help, since he needs many helpers. If by chance he performs some service in return, he does not magnify it in words, but even minimizes it. We should also observe that if you defend a rich and fortunate man, gratitude remains in that one man, or perhaps in his children. But if you defend a poor yet upright and modest man, all the humble who are not dishonest, a great multitude among the people, see a safeguard prepared for themselves.

Le pauvre, au contraire, parce qu'il pense que tout ce qui a été fait visait sa personne et non sa fortune, s'efforce de paraître reconnaissant non seulement envers son bienfaiteur, mais aussi envers ceux dont il attend quelque secours, car il a besoin de beaucoup de gens. S'il rend à son tour quelque service, loin de l'exagérer par ses paroles, il le diminue. Il faut encore observer que, si vous défendez un homme opulent et favorisé de la fortune, la reconnaissance demeure en lui seul ou peut-être dans ses enfants; si vous défendez un pauvre qui soit pourtant honnête et modeste, tous les humbles qui ne sont pas malhonnêtes, et ils forment une grande partie du peuple, voient en vous un secours préparé pour eux.