XXIII
Charity
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Giving to the poor is alone charity: all other giving is of the nature of loan.
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Though it lead unto heaven, receiving is bad: and though heaven should be denied to the giver, giving alms is a virtue.
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It is only the highborn man that giveth without ever meanly saying, I have not.
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The heart of the giver is not glad until he seeth the smile of content on the face of the suppliant.
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The conquest of conquests to the conqueror over self is the conquest over hunger: but his conquest cometh only after the conquest of him who appeaseth that hunger.15
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To fill the gnawing hunger of the poor: that is the way that the wealthy man should lay up riches for himself.
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The evil disease called hunger toucheth not the man that divideth his bread with others.
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The hard of heart who perish their wealth by hoarding it, have not they ever tasted the delight of giving unto others?
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Bitterer verily than the beggar’s bread is the hoarded meal of the miser eating alone.
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Nothing is bitterer than death: but even death is sweet when one hath not the power to do charity.