#Aristotle's Ethicas: Liberalism

     Yet, he will not give to improper people, nor at wrong times, and so on: because he would not then be acting  in accordance with Liberality, and if he spent upon such objects, would have nothing to spend on those on which he ought: for, as I have said before, he is Liberal who spends in proportion to his means, and on proper objects, while he does so in excess is prodigal (This is the reason why we never call despots prodigal, because it does not seem to be easy for them by their gifts and expenditure to go beyond their immense possessions).
     To sum up then.  Since liberality is a mean state in respect of the giving and receiving of wealth, the liberal man will give and spend on proper objects, and in proper proportion, in great things and in small alike, and all this with pleasure to himself; also he will receive from right sources, and in right proportion: because, as the virtue is a mean state in both respect  of both, he will do both as he ought, and, in fact, upon proper giving follows the correspondent receiving, while that which is not such is contrary to it.

It's a bit long winded, but my take is that Aristotle considered such men, being liberals, as those who should be wise enough, and noble enough, to take only what they need from good sources, and give to other people as they need.
Unfortunately, this has been turned 180 degrees, and the liberal has become a person who wants to steal from other people, from the fruits of their labor, in order to give to people who don't contribute.
Personally, I feel that since our governments, both state and federal, wish to spend beyond their means, Aristotle would considered these governments tyrants.