The proper aim of giving is to put the recipient in a state where he no longer needs our gift. We feed children in order that they may soon be able to feed themselves; we teach them in order that they may soon not need our teaching. Thus a heavy task is laid upon this Gift-love. It must work towards its own abdication. We must aim at making ourselves superfluous. The hour when we can say "They need me no longer" should be our reward...The instinct desires the good of its object, but not simply only the good it can itself give. A much higher love...desires the good of the object...from whatever source that good comes...
C.S.Lewis
The Four Loves pp76
