ROWLEY
A hundred pounds! Consider only–
CHARLES
Gad's life, don't talk about it. Poor Stanley's wants are pressing, and if you don't make haste, we shall have someone call that has a better right to the money.
ROWLEY
Ah! there's the point! I never will cease dunning you with the old proverb–
CHARLES
"Be just before you're generous." Why, so I would if I could; but Justice is an old, lame, hobbling beldame, and I can't get her to keep pace with Generosity for the soul of me.

In Richard Brinsley Sheridan's "The School for Scandal," this exchange between Charles and Rowley captures the tension between idealism and practicality. Charles is eager to help a friend in need, eager to act on his generous impulses. However, Rowley reminds him of the proverb "Be just before you're generous," suggesting one should fulfill obligations before offering aid. Charles's response reflects both humor and a certain recklessness, likening Justice to a slow-moving, old woman who can't keep up with his desire to be generous. This highlights Charles's youthful impetuosity and prioritization of compassion over caution. Sir Oliver's disguised test reveals Charles's character, showing that he values familial bonds and generosity more than material wealth, ultimately earning his uncle's admiration.