Liber I, Pars II — Quae sunt proprietates magnifici, et quod proprietates illas reges et principes habere debent. Cap. XXI.

Liber I, Pars II — Quae sunt proprietates magnifici, et quod proprietates illas reges et principes habere debent. Cap. XXI.

Philosopher 4. In the chapter on Magnificence from the Ethics, six qualities of the magnificent are discussed, which kings and princes ought to possess. The first quality is that the magnificent person is likened to one who is knowledgeable. It is said that the magnificent person looks to do great things with decent expenditures. However, one cannot know which expenditures are appropriate for great works unless one possesses knowledge and understanding. The second quality of the magnificent is to make great expenditures, not to show off oneself, but for the sake of goodness. For this is common to every virtue: to act not for favor or for the glory of men, but for the sake of goodness. However, this is said to be particularly characteristic of magnificence. For when someone acts magnificently in great works, such as when they treat divine worship, the state, and worthy individuals with grandeur, they appear most glorious and are praised by people; it is difficult in such matters not to seek human praise. And because virtue is concerned with good and difficult things, it especially pertains to the magnificent to focus on how to achieve greatness in their magnificent works and distributions, aiming ultimately for the good, not for favor or the glory of men. The third property of the magnificent is to make expenditures and distributions delightfully and readily. For one who, before making expenditures, deliberates for a long time and inquires about every small expense, and does not give generously and readily what they ought to give, is not magnificent, but rather petty. Therefore, it is said that... Ethic. that the diligence of reasoning is petty. The fourth is to focus more on how to make the best and most fitting work than on how much expenditure is required for that work. If a magnificent person is to build a temple in honor of God, or to give gifts to deserving individuals, they will focus more on how that temple should be admirable and beautiful, and how those gifts should be great and appropriate, than on how many and how much money they should spend on such works. The fifth quality is that a magnificent person is exceptionally generous. It is the same to be magnificent as it is to be abundantly generous. For (as will be explained below) magnificence is a certain perfection and a certain adornment of generosity, just as magnanimity is a certain perfection and a certain adornment of all virtues. For he is magnificent who makes decent expenditures in great works; if making decent expenditures is being generous, then making the greatest decent expenditures, which a magnificent person makes, is being most generous. The sixth quality of a magnificent person is to make a more magnificent work with an equal expenditure. For the small-minded, because they always focus on how to save money, as mentioned above, end up losing a lot for the sake of a little. Therefore, a magnificent person, who does not care about calculating equal expenditures, makes a more magnificent work because they do not spare decent expenditures. Sometimes, a miser ends up spending more on a project than a generous person does; however, because the miser always tries to cut back on decent expenses, even if they are modest and of little value, the work he does, where he spends a lot, is done indecently. Therefore, whether from an equal expense or even sometimes from a lesser one, a generous or magnificent person does a more decent work than a miser does. It is not difficult to see that these qualities should exist in kings and princes; for they ought to be especially knowledgeable and discerning about the expenses that suit their works. Moreover, it particularly pertains to them to make great donations and excellent expenditures for the sake of goodness. For he who must direct a kingdom should primarily intend for the good. Thus, it also pertains to them to delightfully and promptly make expenditures. For, as was said above, since nature is content with modest things, wealth is idle unless it produces proper donations and decent expenditures. Therefore, the more kings and princes abound in resources and wealth, the more it is fitting for them to make larger contributions and to spend more delightfully and promptly. It's fitting for kings and princes to focus more on how they can carry out excellent works of virtue than on how they can save money and cut expenses. They should also be exceptionally generous and always strive to perform magnificent deeds. Therefore, all the qualities of a magnificent person should be even more fitting for kings. Thus, as it is said there, they ought to be noble and glorious. 4. Ethic. He desires that not everyone can be magnificent, for not everyone can make great expenditures. But, as it is said there, such people ought to be noble and glorious. Therefore, the more noble someone is compared to others, the more it is fitting for him to excel in magnificence and to possess the qualities of a magnanimous person.