Bentham lays it down as a principle, that a man becomes rich in
his own stock of pleasures in proportion to the amount he
distributes to others. His kindness will evoke kindness, and his
happiness be increased by his own benevolence. "Kind words," he
says, "cost no more than unkind ones. Kind words produce kind
actions, not only on the part of him to whom they are addressed,
but on the part of him by whom they are employed; and this not
incidentally only, but habitually, in virtue of the principle of
association.".... "It may indeed happen, that the effort of
beneficence may not benefit those for whom it was intended; but
when wisely directed, it MUST benefit the person from whom it
emanates. Good and friendly conduct may meet with an unworthy and
ungrateful return; but the absence of gratitude on the part of the
receiver cannot destroy the self-approbation which recompenses the
giver, and we may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindliness
around us at so little expense. Some of them will inevitably fall
on good ground, and grow up into benevolence in the minds of
others; and all of them will bear fruit of happiness in the bosom
whence they spring. Once blest are all the virtues always; twice
blest sometimes." (4)
The poet Rogers used to tell a story of a little girl, a great
favourite with every one who knew her. Some one said to her, "Why
does everybody love you so much?" She answered, "I think it is
because I love everybody so much.
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