Tirukkural-On Virtue-Pleasing Speech Or Courtesy-Kural 92

The kindly word and loving smile, accompanying a spontaneous gift,
Make the gift even more valuable.

To give is good, but the attitude of the giver makes a world of difference to the feelings of the receiver. Johnson and Goldsmith were contemporary English litterateurs, and it is said of them that poor people were happier to share a boiled potato with Goldsmith than to have a silver flung at them by Johnson, though both men were actuated by the spirit of charity. Condescension, even if unconscious, detracts substantially from the gift.

It is not for nothing, therefore, it is recorded in Talmud, 'Whoever gives a small coin to a poor man six blessings bestowed on him, but he who speaks a kind word to him obtains eleven blessings.

It is about such a man who gives his gifts this way the Bible said:

'and every man is a friend to him

that giveth gifts'.