Be just before you be generous.
Be just before you be generous.
Meaning in plain English
Meet obligations and treat people fairly before making impressive gifts. Generosity loses some of its value when it depends on withholding what another person is already owed.
Example
A club reimburses volunteers’ agreed expenses before spending its surplus on a donation intended to attract publicity.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying places justice ahead of generosity because the two concern different kinds of action. A gift may be optional, while fair treatment or an existing obligation calls for something that should not depend on a benefactor’s mood. The proverb can expose a display of kindness that overlooks the people carrying its costs. A useful application checks whether the giver has fulfilled responsibilities before seeking admiration for giving more. It does not imply that justice and compassion must compete or that every obligation is obvious. Where demands conflict, the circumstances need careful consideration rather than a simple performance of benevolence.
When to use it
Use it to examine the fairness behind a generous display.
Keep in mind
Competing responsibilities need consideration; this is not legal advice.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Dictionary of Quotations (1893)
Printed citation: Pr. · page_027
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
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