On the Happy Life, Section 23

Seneca — The Senator

The wise man can walk on his own feet, but he'd rather ride in a carriage if he can. In the same way, he can handle being poor, but he'd prefer to be rich. He will own wealth, but he knows it's temporary — someday it will leave him. He won't let money become a burden to himself or anyone else. He will give it away — why are you getting excited? why are you opening your wallet? — he will give it to good people or to those who might become good because of it. He will choose very carefully who deserves his gifts, remembering that he must answer for how he spends money just as much as how he earns it. He will give for worthy reasons, because a bad gift is just a shameful waste. His pocket will open easily, but it won't have holes in it — so plenty can come out when needed, but nothing falls out by accident.

Seneca — The Senator Original

As he is capable of performing a journey upon his own feet, but yet would prefer to mount a carriage, just so he will be capable of being poor, yet will wish to be rich; he will own wealth, but will view it as an uncertain possession which will some day fly away from him. He will not allow it to be a burden either to himself or to any one else: he will give it—why do you prick up your ears? why do you open your pockets?—he will give it either to good men or to those whom it may make into good men. He will give it after having taken the utmost pains to choose those who are fittest to receive it, as becomes one who bears in mind that he ought to give an account of what he spends as well as of what he receives. He will give for good and commendable reasons, for a gift ill bestowed counts as a shameful loss: he will have an easily opened pocket, but not one with a hole in it, so that much may be taken out of it, yet nothing may fall out of it.