"It is better to give then to lend, and it costs about the same"

Philip Gibbs' quote recommends that it is more useful to offer than to lend. This is since when you give something, you are not expecting anything in return. You are merely offering something out of the generosity of your heart. On the other hand, when you provide something, you are anticipating something in return, whether it be the product you provided or some kind of settlement. The quote also indicates that giving and providing cost about the exact same. This could mean that the expense of providing and providing is the exact same in regards to money, or it could mean that the expense of offering and providing is the exact same in terms of emotional financial investment. Either way, the quote is recommending that it is better to provide than to lend, which the cost of doing so is reasonably the same.