A few of Cicero’s thoughts on generosity.
“Whereas one’s purse must not be tightly closed against every generous inclination, it must also not be opened so wide that its contents are available to everybody and anybody.”
“Those who have got accustomed to being subsidized are bound to want more.”
“Nothing wins so much gratitude and enthusiasm as generosity (applied with discrimination.)”
From On the Good Life, translated by Michael Grant, Penguin Classics edition.
ON THE GOOD LIFE is my favorite Cicero anthology; great and I mean really great 50 page introduction by Michael Grant. I never get tired or re-reading it. It is that good.