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219
"What thou doest, do quickly" – & especially if the
deed be one that is likely to gratify others. Hence negative
benevolence exacts that there should be no needless waste of
time in the discharge of those functions on whose exercise
others depend for any portion of their enjoyments.
Unnecessary delay in answering letters for example is such inconsistent with prudence & beneficence. It brings
with it loss of reputation for as in so far as you are concerned – & is likely to cause annoyance
to others. Promptitude adds to the value of every service. A charge is
Procrastination is punishment imposed by the despotism of indolence.
The same service rendered promptly is often of far greater
value than a more important service when delayed. Bis dat qui
citò dat – He gives twice who gives quickly is a truism an aphorism which when
the gift is a benevolent one, the Deontologist may adopt into his
Code. For to promptitude of beneficent action not only is greater efficiency
of service ordinarily attached, – but greater vivacity in the
generous affections.
Applications for services are too frequently
treated with inattention. At a little cost the pains of
delay may be saved to the applier. It was said to be
the Duke of Wellington's practice invariably & promptly to
reply to all such communications. Next to conferring the
service favor, attention to the application is the surest
way of gratifying the applicant. It was an economy
of all those sufferings which grow out of "hope deferred".
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Identifier: | JB/015/534/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
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015 |
deontology |
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534a "a" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 534.
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001 |
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linking material |
1 |
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recto |
f219 |
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sir john bowring |
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5750 |
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