Painless poverty is better than embittered wealth.
—Greek Proverb
A poor man is all schemes.
—Spanish Proverb
Oh, God! that bread should be so dear! And flesh and blood so cheap!
—Thomas Hood (1799–1845) English Poet, Humorist
A poor beauty finds more lovers than husbands.
—English Proverb
The poor would never be able to live at all if it were not for the poor.
—George Moore (1852–1933) Irish Writer
For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
One of the strangest things about life is that the poor, who need the money the most, are the ones that never have it.
—Finley Peter Dunne (1867–1936) American Author, Writer, Humorist
A rich child often sits in a poor mother’s lap.
—Danish Proverb
A man who has nothing can whistle in a robber’s face.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
If the rich could hire other people to die for them, the poor could make a wonderful living.
—Yiddish Proverb
A poor man would like to have some fun, but he cannot find the right place.
—Arabic Proverb
Grant me the treasure of sublime poverty: permit the distinctive sign of our order to be that it does not possess anything of its own beneath the sun, for the glory of your name, and that it have no other patrimony than begging.
—Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) Italian Monk, Founder of the Franciscan Order
In America today we are nearer a final triumph over poverty than in any land. The poorhouse has vanished from amongst us.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
As for the virtuous poor, one can pity them, of course, but one cannot possibly admire them. They have made private terms with the enemy, and sold their birthright for very bad pottage. They must also be extraordinarily stupid.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
In going to America one learns that poverty is not a necessary accompaniment to civilization.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
To judge human character rightly, a man may sometimes have very small experience, provided he has a very large heart.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
He who ashamed of his poverty would be equally proud of his wealth.
—Unknown
You don’t seem to realize that a poor person who is unhappy is in a better position than a rich person who is unhappy. Because the poor person has hope. He thinks money would help.
—Jean Kerr (1922–2003) Irish-American Author, Playwright
Poor is the man who does not know his own intrinsic worth and tends to measure everything by relative value. A man of financial wealth who values himself by his financial net worth is poorer than a poor man who values himself by his intrinsic self worth.
—Sidney Madwed (1926–2013) American Poet, Author
What we have found in this country, and maybe we’re more aware of it now, is one problem that we’ve had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless, you might say, by choice.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
When poverty crosses the threshold love flies out the window.
—African Proverb
Being broke is a temporary situation. Being poor is a state of mind.
—Mike Todd (1907–58) American Theater Personality, Film Producer
He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Do not ask the name of the person who seeks a bed for the night. He who is reluctant to give his name is the one who most needs shelter.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Empty pockets make empty heads.
—William Carlos Williams (1883–1963) American Poet, Novelist, Cultural Historian
Give me the poverty that enjoys true wealth.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Poverty is the step-mother of genius.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Poverty is uncomfortable, as I can testify: but nine times out of ten the best thing that can happen to a young man is to be tossed overboard and compelled to sink or swim for himself.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
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