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Benefactors are commonly held to have more Friendship for the

objects of their kindness than these for them: and the fact is

made a subject of discussion and enquiry, as being contrary to

reasonable expectation.

The account of the matter which satisfies most persons is that

the one are debtors and the others creditors: and therefore that,

as in the case of actual loans the debtors wish their creditors

out of the way while the creditors are anxious for the

preservation of their debtors, so those who have done kindnesses

desire the continued existence of the people they have done them

to, under the notion of getting a return of their good offices,

while these are not particularly anxious about requital.

Epicharmus, I suspect, would very probably say that they who give

this solution judge from their own baseness; yet it certainly is

like human nature, for the generality of men have short memories

on these points, and aim rather at receiving than conferring

benefits.