It is a great advantage to do one’s good deeds in secret. This is especially true when regarding charity, as it says “A present in secret will bend anger!”, and the early commentators explained that the verse “Each man according to the giving of his hand, like the blessing of Hashem your G-d which He gave to you!” alludes to this fact by comparing a present to a blessing and we see that just like blessing takes effect best on things which are hidden from the eye, so too a gift to a poor person should be hidden from the eye. The same applies to all of the commandments, studies, pious acts and holy accomplishments, that one who performs these acts in secret will be elevated, and he will be saved from any possibility of arrogance and the evil eye. He will show by this that his actions were for the sake of heaven. Wisdom rests with discreet people, and blessings rest upon them, and the evil inclination does not rule over him, and many other good consequences. He should even hide his deeds from his household members unless he does them only for the sake of heaven so that they will learn from him.
