"Benefits, then, will be fewer, but more genuine: well, what harm
is there in restricting people from giving recklessly?" Even those who
would have no legislation upon the subject follow this rule, that we
ought to be somewhat careful in giving, and in choosing those upon whom
we bestow favours. Reflect over and over again to whom you are giving:
you will have no remedy at law, no means of enforcing repayment. You are
mistaken if you suppose that the judge will assist you: no law will
make full restitution to you, you must look only to the honour of the
receiver. Thus only can benefits retain their influence, and thus only
are they admirable: you dishonour them if you make them the grounds of
litigation, "Pay what you owe" is a most just proverb; and one which
carries with it the sanction of all nations; but in dealing with
benefits it is most shameful. "Pay!" How is a man to pay who owes his
life, his position, his safety, or his reason to another? None of the
greatest benefits can be repaid. "Yet," it is said, "you ought to give
in return for them something of equal value." This is just what I have
been saying, that the grandeur of the act is ruined if we make our
benefits commercial transactions. We ought hot to encourage ourselves in
avarice, in discontent, or in quarrels; the human mind is prone enough
to these by nature. As far as we are able, let us check it, and cut off
the opportunities for which it seeks.

XV. Would that we could indeed persuade men to receive back money which
they have lent from those debtors only who are willing to pay! would
that no agreement ever bound the buyer to the seller, and that their
interests were not protected by sealed covenants and agreements, but
rather by honour and a sense of justice! However, men prefer what
is needful to what is truly best, and choose rather to force their
creditors to keep faith with them than to trust that they will do so.
Witnesses are called on both sides; the one, by calling in brokers,
makes several names appear in his accounts as his debtors instead of
one; the other is not content with the legal forms of question and
answer unless he holds the other party by the hand. What a shameful
admission of the dishonesty and wickedness of mankind! men trust more to
our signet-rings than to our intentions. For what are these respectable
men summoned? for what do they impress their seals? it is in order that
the borrower may not deny that he has received what h