Des devoirs Passage 45

Tertium est propositum, ut in beneficentia dilectus esset dignitatis; in quo et mores eius erunt spectandi, in quem beneficium conferetur, et animus erga nos et communitas ac societas vitae et ad nostras utilitates officia ante collata; quae ut concurrant omnia, optabile est; si minus, plures causae maioresque ponderis plus habebunt.

The third rule proposed was that beneficence should discriminate according to worth. In this judgment we must consider the character of the person upon whom the benefit is to be conferred, his disposition toward us, our shared life and fellowship, and the services he has previously rendered to our interests. It is desirable that all these considerations should coincide; if they do not, the more numerous and weightier reasons will carry greater force.

La troisième règle proposée est de discerner le mérite dans la bienfaisance. Il faudra considérer les mœurs de celui auquel le bienfait sera accordé, ses dispositions à notre égard, la communauté et l’association de nos vies, ainsi que les services qu’il nous a précédemment rendus. Il est souhaitable que toutes ces raisons se rencontrent; sinon, les plus nombreuses et les plus importantes auront le plus de poids.