He may not ask you for assistance, but think of it yourself, and assist him without his request.

And if he should happen to be proud and thus feel offended at your aid, do not allow him to see that you are lending him a helping hand.

That's the way it should be done, according to common sense! Here, for example, two boards, let us say, fall into the mud--one of them is a rotten one, the other, a good sound board.

What should you do?
What good is there in the rotten board?
You had better drop it, let it stay in the mud and step on it so as not to soil your feet.

As to the sound board, lift it up and place it in the sun; if it can be of no use to you, someone else may avail himself of it.