Refusing Gifts

Ad quae respondens Daniel ait coram rege: Munera tua sint tibi: et dona domus tuae alteri da... Aemulemur Danielem, Regis dignitatem et munera contemnentem, qui absque pretio proferens veritatem jam illo tempore praeceptum Evangelicum sequebatur: Gratis acceptistis, gratis date. Alioqui, e trisitia nuntiantem, indecens erat libenter dona suscipere. Sanctus Hieronymus, Commentaria in Daniel, Caput V  Source:  Migne PL 25.520 D

Daniel answering said in the presence of the king, 'Let yours gifts be for yourself, and the things of your house give to another...' 1 Let us emulate Daniel who spurned the honour and gifts of the king, who without reward brought forth truth, already in that time following the precept of the Gospel: 'Freely you have received, freely give.' 2 Besides, announcing mournful things, it would have been indecent to receive gifts. Saint Jerome, from the Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 5 1 Dan 5.11 2 Mt 10.8