re: #717 Alouette

He is 55, never lived through a war or a depression. Now, my in-laws were very frugal because they lived through the depression, but my husband and my sister-in-law enjoy living well and do not have this skinflint mentality. My BIL however, defines stinginess.

That’s a shame, a real shame. The Rambam, taking up Aristotle’s advice, would have him compelled to make a series of small, unnecessary expenditures (from his standpoint) that would yet benefit others, to build the virtue of charity and the habit of a more reasonable handling of money.

Lao Tzu points out that the wealthy are those who know they have enough. The BIL is wealthy, but doesn’t know it yet.