“Charity degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it.”

PS Snarky reactions will be ignored.  Thoughful ones will get a reply.

Apr 16, 2012 -- 9:31AM, JimRigas wrote:

Please justify the second half of your postulate,

It's not mine, as noted it is from George Sand.

We know that self-denial as a basis for feeling good about yourself / worthy / virtuous is found in all cultures ie is genetic.

Giving money or appropriate goods to charity can have this effect.  (I distinguish giving money and goods from being actually hands on delivering charity, though I know the latter people, who include many heroes, can burn out too.)

So first, we have altruism within us, and second, we can be pushed too far and be exhausted by demands on it.

That leaves the question of whether charity makes the receiver cynical.  Yes, it dang sure can have that effect, as every professional beggar knows.  No, even if we leave the whole of that aside (which involves wondering what some beggars have if begging brings nothing) there are lots of uncynical, sincerely grateful. recipients of caritas.

Conclusion: the proposition is sometimes correct as to both its propositions, sometimes correct as to one of them, and sometimes outright wrong.

Which doesn't make it very helpful - a statement true of many broad generalizations.

To the OP, I think it is true in some cases, but not all.  I have some friends who work in law enforcement, for example.  They try to work hard for the protection and service of all good people.  Granted, at times they can become cynical, as many times they encounter people at something less than their best condition.  However, they get recharged when they get a "big win", whether individually or as a group.  They tell me firemen and doctors act the same way.  The win, in this case, is not about personal benefit but an assurance that what they do makes a difference.  It would be true to say the job is hard at times, but it would be false to say they stop caring or become callous to people.  

The OP is the kind of claim made by someone who is unwilling to commit to charity in the long term, and who seeks to excuse himself by a false claim taht sounds good to his own ears.