Giving small gifts is to dishonor, because it is nothing but alms, and signifies an opinion of need for small help” (L 10, 21). He also says: «The greed for great riches and the ambition for great honors are honorable things, as signs of the power to obtain them» (L 10,47). In society, in small groups, it is common that "stealing and spoiling each other was a profession, and so far from being considered against the law of nature that the greater the loot, the greater their honor" (L 17, 2). ). This reinforces the need for security and defense of people within the state. The purpose of the government is "to defend them from the invasion of foreigners and from mutual injury, and thus protect them from their own industry" (L 17,