٥٣. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): السَّخَاءُ مَا كَانَ ابْتِدَاءً، فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةِ فَحَيَاءٌ وَتَذَمُّمٌ.

53. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Generosity is that which is by one’s own initiative, because giving on being asked is either out of self-respect or to avoid rebuke.

53. La générosité est une vertu innée; mais quand elle s’exerce occasion-nellement elle devient une crainte du blâme et une fuite de la censure.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #53