An Essay on Mediaeval Economic Teaching

Description

Buridan summarizes magnificence (or munificence), the virtue of great expenditure, well (Eth. , iv. 7):

By munificence, we understand a habit inclining one to the performance of great works, or to the incurring of great expenses, when, where, and in the manner in which they are called for (fuerit opportunum), for example, building a church, assembling great armies for a threatened war, and giving splendid marriage feasts. […] munificence stands in the same relation to liberality as bravery acquired by its exercise in danger of death in battle does to bravery simply and commonly understood.