--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though we may sometimes unintentionally…" description: "\"Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. For charity doth not adopt ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/henry-fielding-1358_beneficence_though-we-may-sometimes-unintentionally_2522654.jpg" --- # Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our… ![“Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. For charity doth not adopt the vices of its objects.” quote by Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/henry-fielding-1358_beneficence_though-we-may-sometimes-unintentionally_2522654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/henry-fielding-1358_beneficence_though-we-may-sometimes-unintentionally_2522654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/henry-fielding-1358_beneficence_though-we-may-sometimes-unintentionally_2522654.jpg) > “Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. For charity doth not adopt the vices of its objects.” [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Charity remains virtuous even if given to unworthy recipients; the act’s merit stays intact. **In simple terms:** Giving is good even to the unworthy. Key Takeaway Practice generosity without judgment. Themes morality charity virtue humanity Mood thoughtful ethical Type philosophical didactic When to use this quote - philanthropy - social aid - personal giving Key Concepts beneficence unworthiness ethical consistency Questions to Reflect On - Is generosity always pure? - How to balance compassion and discernment? A Different Perspective Unworthy recipients may exploit generosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficence/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [A failure doesn't mean you are unworthy, nor does it preclude success on the next try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/a-failure-doesn-t-mean-you-are-unworthy-nor-does-it-preclude-success/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) > [The good or evil we confer on others very often, I believe, recoils on ourselves; for as men of a benign disposition enjoy their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-good-or-evil-we-confer-on-others-very-often-i-believe-recoils-on/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Every man who becomes heartily and understandingly a channel of the Divine beneficence is enriched through every league of his life. Perennial satisfaction springs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/every-man-who-becomes-heartily-and-understandingly-a-channel-of-the/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-fruits-of-charity-are-joy-peace-and-mercy-charity-demands/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [While dwelling with pleasing satisfaction upon the superior excellence of our political institutions, let us not be unmindful that liberty is power; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/while-dwelling-with-pleasing-satisfaction-upon-the-superior/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Wherever the tree of beneficence takes root, it sends forth branches beyond the sky!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/wherever-the-tree-of-beneficence-takes-root-it-sends-forth-branches/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [I cannot persuade myself that a beneficient and omnipotent God would have designedly created...that a cat should play with mice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-cannot-persuade-myself-that-a-beneficient-and-omnipotent-god-would/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“Virtue . . . is nearly connected with the heart: I have called it Beneficence; not in the very limited sense that is generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/virtue-is-nearly-connected-with-the-heart-i-have-called-it/) [Anne-Louise-Germaine de Staël](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The state has physical power and uses it when necessary; the power of religion is love and beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-mendelssohn/the-state-has-physical-power-and-uses-it-when-necessary-the-power-of/) [Moses Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-mendelssohn/) > [To act and act wisely when the time for action comes, to wait and wait patiently when it is time for repose, put man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/to-act-and-act-wisely-when-the-time-for-action-comes-to-wait-and-wait/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [That is a true sentiment which makes us feel that we do not love our country less, but more, because we have laid up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/that-is-a-true-sentiment-which-makes-us-feel-that-we-do-not-love-our/) [Arthur Penrhyn Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/) > [The indescribable innocence of and beneficence of Nature,-of sun and wind and rain, of summer and winter,-such health, such cheer, they afford forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-indescribable-innocence-of-and-beneficence-of-nature-of-sun-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The moral duty of man consists of imitatingthe moral goodness and beneficence of God,manifested in the creation, toward all His creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-moral-duty-of-man-consists-of-imitatingthe-moral-goodness-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Private beneficence is totally inadequate to deal with the vast numbers of the city's disinherited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/private-beneficence-is-totally-inadequate-to-deal-with-the-vast/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) ## More by Henry Fielding > [“Though Jones had formerly believed himself in the very prime of youth and vigor, his first encounter with Lady Bellaston both vexed and puzzled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/though-jones-had-formerly-believed-himself-in-the-very-prime-of-youth/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/adversity-is-the-trial-of-principle-without-it-a-man-hardly-knows/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The greatest part of mankind labor under one delirium or another; and Don Quixote differed from the rest, not in madness, but the species…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-greatest-part-of-mankind-labor-under-one-delirium-or-another-and/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/it-is-well-known-to-all-great-men-that-by-conferring-an-obligation/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [One fool at least in every married couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/one-fool-at-least-in-every-married-couple/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A lover, when he is admitted to cards, ought to be solemnly silent, and observe the motions of his mistress. He must laugh when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-lover-when-he-is-admitted-to-cards-ought-to-be-solemnly-silent-and/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [If you make money your god, it will plague you like the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/if-you-make-money-your-god-it-will-plague-you-like-the-devil/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases; so anger, when removed, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/as-a-conquered-rebellion-strengthens-a-government-or-as-health-is/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's eyes are open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-wonder-lasts-but-nine-days-and-then-the-puppy-s-eyes-are-open/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Custom may lead a man into many errors; but it justifies none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/custom-may-lead-a-man-into-many-errors-but-it-justifies-none/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A grave aspect to a grave character is of much more consequence than the world is generally aware of; a barber may make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-grave-aspect-to-a-grave-character-is-of-much-more-consequence-than/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) [Explore all 246 Henry Fielding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## More Beneficence quotes > [Private beneficence is totally inadequate to deal with the vast numbers of the city's disinherited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/private-beneficence-is-totally-inadequate-to-deal-with-the-vast/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [The moral duty of man consists of imitatingthe moral goodness and beneficence of God,manifested in the creation, toward all His creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-moral-duty-of-man-consists-of-imitatingthe-moral-goodness-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The indescribable innocence of and beneficence of Nature,-of sun and wind and rain, of summer and winter,-such health, such cheer, they afford forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-indescribable-innocence-of-and-beneficence-of-nature-of-sun-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [That is a true sentiment which makes us feel that we do not love our country less, but more, because we have laid up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/that-is-a-true-sentiment-which-makes-us-feel-that-we-do-not-love-our/) [Arthur Penrhyn Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/) > [To act and act wisely when the time for action comes, to wait and wait patiently when it is time for repose, put man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/to-act-and-act-wisely-when-the-time-for-action-comes-to-wait-and-wait/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [The state has physical power and uses it when necessary; the power of religion is love and beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-mendelssohn/the-state-has-physical-power-and-uses-it-when-necessary-the-power-of/) [Moses Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-mendelssohn/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“Virtue . . . is nearly connected with the heart: I have called it Beneficence; not in the very limited sense that is generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/virtue-is-nearly-connected-with-the-heart-i-have-called-it/) [Anne-Louise-Germaine de Staël](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/) > [I cannot persuade myself that a beneficient and omnipotent God would have designedly created...that a cat should play with mice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-cannot-persuade-myself-that-a-beneficient-and-omnipotent-god-would/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Wherever the tree of beneficence takes root, it sends forth branches beyond the sky!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/wherever-the-tree-of-beneficence-takes-root-it-sends-forth-branches/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [While dwelling with pleasing satisfaction upon the superior excellence of our political institutions, let us not be unmindful that liberty is power; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/while-dwelling-with-pleasing-satisfaction-upon-the-superior/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-fruits-of-charity-are-joy-peace-and-mercy-charity-demands/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Every man who becomes heartily and understandingly a channel of the Divine beneficence is enriched through every league of his life. Perennial satisfaction springs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/every-man-who-becomes-heartily-and-understandingly-a-channel-of-the/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [The Angels are the dispensers and administrators of the Divine beneficence toward us. They regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-angels-are-the-dispensers-and-administrators-of-the-divine/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Advance warning of Katrina's path was wrested from mute Nature by meteorological calculations and satellite imagery. God told no one of His plans. Had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/advance-warning-of-katrina-s-path-was-wrested-from-mute-nature-by/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Browse all 58 Beneficence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. 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