A virtue interestingly distinct from the Christian virtue of charity, in that while the latter responds to the needs and deficiencies of others, generosity may be simply the exercise of an abundance, an overflow of good will or benevolence. Aristotle regards it as a correct mean between prodigality and meanness, but others would allow that people can be too generous, so that although they are not quite perfectly tuned, they do not thereby forfeit their title to generosity.
Philosophy dictionary. Academic. 2011.