giving

The good should be grateful to the bad - for providing the world with a basis for comparison.

Too long a sacrifice Can make a stone of the heart.

As Charles Lamb says there is nothing so nice as doing good by stealth and being found out by accident so I now say it is even nicer to make heroic decisions and to be prevented by 'circumstances beyond your control' from ever trying to execute them.

The Devil himself is good when he is pleased.

It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

The meaning of good and bad of better and worse is simply helping or hurting.

I expect to pass though this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to my fellow-creature let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.

There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us that it's rather hard to tell which of us ought to reform the rest of us.

If you're naturally kind you attract a lot of people you don't like.

All strangers and beggars are from Zeus and a gift though small is precious.

When thou doest alms do not let thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.

Gifts are hooks.

Be good sweet maid and let who can be clever.

Is not a patron one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water and when he has reached ground encumbers him with help?

Take egotism out and you would castrate the benefactor.

The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth and to have it found out by accident.

No good deed ever goes unpunished.

If a friend is in trouble don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.