#good-will

Typically we make judgements about morally good and bad actions not so much according to the outcomes but according to the motives. A thief might turn in his accomplice so he can keep all the loot for himself, but we do not accord moral value to his action because, although the outcome might have been socially beneficial, his intention was malicious. A woman might throw herself into the sea, without any thought for her own safety, in a vain attempt to rescue someone, but we laud her courage and attribute moral value to her action. In order to understand why such "good-willed" actions are valued in themselves we need to the purely good-willed motive from other motives--that is, actions taken simply from immediate inclination or for one's own enjoyment or because they are carried out in pursuit of another end.

“Do good and throw it into the sea, for even if the fish do not notice, God will.”

Good King Wenceslas looked out On the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel-- When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel. "Hither, page, and stand by me, If thou know'st it telling, Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" "Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence, By Saint Agnes' fountain." "Bring me flesh and bring me wine, Bring me pine logs hither; Thou and I will see him dine When we bear them thither." Page and monarch, forth they went-- Forth they went together, Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather. "Sire, the night is darker now, And the wind blows stronger. Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer." "Mark my footsteps, good my page, Tread thou in them boldly; Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly." In his master's steps he trod, Where the snow lay dinted. Heat was in the very sod Which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Wealth or rank possessing: Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing.

Helping people should not be about bragging. It should be - self- evident.