The Golden Ladder of Giving

1. To give reluctantly,
the gift of the hand, but not of the heart.

2. To give cheerfully,
but not in proportion to need.

3. To give cheerfully and proportionately,
but not until solicited.

4. To give cheerfully, proportionately, and unsolicited,
but to put the gift into the poor person's hand, thus creating shame.

5. To give in such a way that the distressed may know their benefactor,
without being known to him or her.

6. To know the objects of our bounty,
but remain unknown to them.

7. To give so that the benefactor may not know those whom he has relieved,
and they shall not know him.

8. To prevent poverty by teaching a trade, setting a person up in business,
or in some other way preventing the need of charity.

About the Author - Maimonides (1135 -1204)
During the Middle Ages he was a Jewish rabbi, physican and philospher While his words were written many years ago their wisdom can still apply today.