But in the creed of the Stoics generally, active Beneficence did not occupy a prominent place.

They adopted the four Cardinal Virtues--Wisdom, or the Knowledge of Good and Evil; Justice; Fortitude; Temperance--as part of their plan of the virtuous life, the life according to Nature.

Justice, as the social virtue, was placed above all the rest.

But the Stoics were not strenuous in requiring more than Justice, for the benefit of others beside the agent.

They even reckoned compassion for the sufferings of others as a weakness, analogous to envy for the good fortune of others.
The Stoic recognized the gods (or Universal Nature, equivalent expressions in his creed) as managing the affairs of the world, with a view to producing as much happiness as was attainable on the whole.
Towards this end the gods did not want any positive assistance from him; but it was his duty and his strongest interest, to resign himself to their plans, and to abstain from all conduct tending to frustrate them.