Genius and Generosity

The actor Baron warned Molière that a poor actor could not join a country troupe due to lack of money.
Molière, who loved Baron like his own son, asked him:
- How much do you think I should give him?
- Uh... I think 4 pistoles...
So Molière:
- Give him the 4 pistoles here for me, who don't know him, and the 20 here from you, since he's your friend.

Boileau was in no way inferior to his colleague. Having learned that the pension paid to old Corneille had just been cancelled, he went to Madame de Montespan and offered to give up his own pension in favor of the great tragic poet.
Madame de Montespan, touched by this selflessness, obtained that both pensions be maintained.