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Literary notes about beneficence (AI summary)

In literature, the term "beneficence" is employed to convey both the lofty ideals of moral duty and the tangible acts of kindness that shape human character and society. It is often depicted as an inherent quality that not only inspires admiration but also serves as a practical measure of good works in everyday life, as seen when it engenders gratitude and elevates personal integrity [1, 2]. At other moments, beneficence is framed as an essential component of a larger, systematic vision for progress and social reform, intertwining moral philosophy with public virtue [3, 4]. Historical narratives and political discussions further use the term to highlight the conduct of eminent figures whose generous actions lent them enduring prestige and authority [5, 6]. Overall, beneficence functions as a multifaceted symbol of ethical behavior and communal betterment throughout literary works.
  1. And may’st thou, stranger to ostentation, and superior to insolence, with true greatness of soul shine forth conspicuous only in beneficence!
    — from Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World by Fanny Burney
  2. Wherever the princess appeared, she left behind her grateful recollections by her beneficence.
    — from Secret History of the Court of England, from the Accession of George the Third to the Death of George the Fourth, Volume 1 (of 2) Including, Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of the Princess Charlotte by Hamilton, Anne, Lady
  3. Outward beneficence might be secured by experiment.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  4. A dream of universal predominance visiting a truly virtuous and intelligent people would be an aspiration toward universal beneficence.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  5. Augustus, in patronizing merit; Titus Vespasian in generosity; Trajan in beneficence; and Marcus Aurelius in philosophy.’
    — from The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by T. Smollett
  6. Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus visited their extensive dominions in person, and their progress was marked by acts of wisdom and beneficence.
    — from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

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