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But recall yourself to the consideration of what has
been said a little above. This is one of their assertions
against the common conception, that no vicious man receives any utility. And yet many being instructed profit;
many being slaves are made free; many being besieged
are delivered, being lame are led by the hand, and being
sick are cured. ‘But possessing all these things, they are
never the better, neither do receive benefits, nor have they
any benefactors, nor do they slight their benefactors.’
Vicious men then are not ungrateful, no more than are
wise men. Ingratitude therefore has no being; because
the good receiving a benefit fail not to acknowledge it, and
the bad are not capable of receiving any. Behold now.
what they say to this,—that benefit is ranked among mean
or middle things, and that to give and receive utility belongs only to the wise, but the bad also receive a benefit.
[p. 392]
Then they who partake of the benefit partake not also of
its use; and whither a benefit extends, there is nothing
useful or commodious. Now what else is there that makes
a kind office a benefit, but that the bestower of it is, in
some respect, useful to the needy receiver?
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 4.
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