Prodigality is indeed the vice of a weak nature, as avarice is of a strong one; it comes of a weak craving for those blandishments of the world which are easily to be had for money, and which, when obtained, are as much worse than worthless as a harlot's love is worse than none.

His foodWas glory, which was poison to his mindAnd peril to his body.

...and for that they were rich,/And robbed the poor; and for that they were strong,/And scourged the weak; and for that they made laws/Which turned the sweat of labor's brow to blood! - /For these their sins the nations cast them out.

Where there are large powers with little ambition... nature may be said to have fallen short of her purposes.

I have not skillFrom such a sharp and waspish word as "No"To pluck the sting.

We figure to ourselves The thing we like; and then we build it up, As chance will have it, on the rock or sand,- For thought is tired of wandering o'er the world, And homebound Fancy runs her bark ashore.

When you give, therefore, take to yourself no credit for generosity, unless you deny yourself something in order that you may give.