Daily Inspiration Quote by Marvin Olasky

Philanthropy loves a good halo, and Olasky is here to dim the lighting. By splitting “humility” from “prudence,” he punctures the comforting idea that good intentions can substitute for good judgment. Humility, in his framing, is a moral posture: the giver admits limits, listens, resists the savior narrative. But he calls it “not sufficient” because humility can still be passive, sentimental, even performative. You can feel small and still write the check that wrecks a local economy, props up a dysfunctional nonprofit, or turns a community into a showcase for donor branding.

“Prudence” is the sharper demand: discipline, skepticism, and an awareness of tradeoffs. It’s the virtue that forces philanthropists to ask the questions humility can dodge: What incentives are we creating? Who gains power from this gift? What happens when the funding ends? Prudence is also a rebuke to the Silicon Valley-style “move fast and fix things” mentality that has seeped into charity: pilot programs launched like apps, communities treated like beta testers, outcomes measured by whatever looks good in a report to trustees.

The subtext is a critique of philanthropy as identity. When giving becomes self-expression, humility becomes a tone and prudence becomes optional. Olasky argues that the ethical minimum is not just to mean well, but to anticipate consequences. In a culture that rewards generosity as a performance, he insists on generosity as governance.