In "Don Quixote," the character Sancho Panza expresses a critical view on charitable acts that are driven by personal gain or popularity rather than genuine altruism. He suggests that when charitable works receive undue praise or warmth, they lose their true value and significance. This reflects a deeper commentary on the nature of virtue and selflessness.
Sancho’s perspective serves as a reminder that authentic charity should stem from a sincere desire to help others, rather than from the desire for recognition. The notion that acts of kindness can become distorted by societal approval challenges readers to reflect on their motivations behind helping others and the true worth of an action that is not done for its own sake.