What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.
What we call generosity is for the most part only the vanity of giving; and we exercise it because we are more fond of that vanity than of the thing we give.
What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.
Generosity is the vanity of giving.
Avarice is more directly opposed to thrift than generosity is.
On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.
