Philanthropy is an important subject of liberal education because it examines the role of good works in shaping our conceptions of the good society and the good life.

The genius of the tradition as it has developed in America is the unique combination of giving and voluntary service in behalf of independent organizations and institutions devoted to the public interest.

Do we live for or do we live off philanthropy?

We should never lose sight of the very close link between individual giving and the formation of philanthropic traditions.

American philanthropic custom owes much to leadership by business and professional people.

Philanthropy is the duty of how we should behave when things go wrong for people, and how we can help to make things better for everyone - voluntarily, without being required to do it by the government, and for others, without private gain for ourselves.

The philanthropic tradition is older than democracy, older than Christianity, and older than higher education. It gives form and purpose to personal and social life that cannot be provided by the self-interest of economic enterprise or required by the mandate of political institutions.