Alms and Actors

Cum ergo facis eleemosynam, inquit, noli tuba canere ante te, sicut hypocritae faciunt in sinagogis et in vicis, ut glorificentur ab hominibus. Noli, inquit, sic velle innotescere ut hypocritae. Manifestum est autem hypocritas non quod oculis praetendunt hominum, id etiam corde gestare. Sunt enim hypocritae simulatores tamquam pronuntiatores personarum alienarum sicut in theatricis fabulis. Non enim qui agit partes Agamemnonis in tragoedia, verbi gratia, sive alicuius alterius ad historiam vel fabulam quae agitur pertinentis, vere ipse est, sed simulat eum et hypocrita dicitur. Sic in Ecclesia vel in omni vita humana quisquis se vult videri quod non est, hypocrita est. Simulat enim iustum, non exhibet, quia totum fructum in laude hominum ponit quam possunt etiam simulantes percipere, dum fallunt eos quibus videntur boni ab eisque laudantur. Sed tales ab inspectore cordis Deo mercedem non accipiunt nisi fallaciae supplicium. Ab hominibus autem perceperunt, inquit, mercedem suam. Rectissimeque his dicetur: Recedite a me operarii dolosi; nomen enim meum habuistis, sed opera mea non fecistis. Illi ergo perceperunt mercedem suam qui non ob aliud eleemosynam faciunt nisi ut glorificentur ab hominibus; non si glorificentur ab hominibus, sed si ideo faciant ut glorificentur.  De Sermone Domini in Monte, Liber Secundus, Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensis

Therefore, when you give alms, says He, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Do not, says He, wish to become known like hypocrites. Indeed it is manifest that it is not what hypocrites hold before the eyes of men that they have in their heart. For hypocrites are pretenders, as it were proclaimers of other persons, just as in the plays of the theatre. For he who acts the part of Agamemnon in tragedy, for instance, or who acts any other person of history or fable, is not really his true self, but imitates another, and is called a hypocrite. So in the Church, or in any area of human life, whoever wishes to be seen as what he is not is a hypocrite. For he pretends to be a just man, but does not show himself, and this because he places his whole reward in the praise of men, which even pretenders may receive while they deceive those to whom they seem good, and are praised by them. But such men do not receive a reward from God, the Searcher of the heart, unless it be punishment for deceit. From men, however, says He, they have received their reward. And most righteously will it be said to them, Depart from me, you workers of fraud; you had my name, but you did not do my works. Thus they have received their reward, who give alms that they may have glory among men; not if they have glory among men, but if they act that they may be so glorified. On the Sermon on the Mount, Book 2, Saint Augustine of Hippo