Therefore the free man, lest he should become hateful to the ignorant, or follow their desires rather than reason, will endeavour, as far as he can, to avoid receiving their favours.
Note .-- I say, as far as he can.

For though men be ignorant, yet are they men, and in cases of necessity could afford us human aid, the most excellent of all things: therefore it is often necessary to accept favours from them, and consequently to repay such favours in kind; we must, therefore, exercise caution in declining favours, lest we should have the appearance of despising those who bestow them, or of being, from avaricious motives, unwilling to requite them, and so give ground for offence by the very fact of striving to avoid it.

Thus, in declining favours, we must look to the requirements of utility and courtesy.
PROP.LXXI.

Only free men are thoroughly grateful one to another.
Proof .-- Only free men are thoroughly useful one to another, and associated among themselves by the closest necessity of friendship (IV.xxxv., and Coroll.

i.), only such men endeavour, with mutual zeal of love, to confer benefits on each other (IV.
xxxvii.), and, therefore, only they are thoroughly grateful one to another.