When poverty crosses the threshold love flies out the window.
—African Proverb
In going to America one learns that poverty is not a necessary accompaniment to civilization.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
You lose your manners when you’re poor.
—Lillian Hellman (1905–84) American Playwright, Dramatist, Memoirist
Poverty in itself does not make men into a rabble; a rabble is created only when there is joined to poverty a disposition of mind, an inner indignation against the rich, against society, against the government.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
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
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
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
When the rich wage war it is the poor who die.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor, they also shall cry themselves, but not be heard.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
Painless poverty is better than embittered wealth.
—Greek Proverb
With virtue you can’t be entirely poor; without virtue you can’t really be rich.
—Chinese Proverb
America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
There’s no scandal like rags, nor any crime so shameful as poverty.
—George Farquhar (1677–1707) Irish Dramatist
Poverty is the worst form of violence.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Poverty is a wonderful thing. It sticks to a man after all his friends have forsaken him.
—Hebrew Proverb
What a devil art thou, Poverty! How many desires—how many aspirations after goodness and truth—how many noble thoughts, loving wishes toward our fellows, beautiful imaginings thou hast crushed under thy heel, without remorse or pause!
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Who, being loved, is poor?
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
A poor man with nothing in his belly needs hope, illusion, more than bread.
—Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) French Author
I worked myself up from nothing to extreme poverty.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
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
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
Poverty is the step-mother of genius.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
To be shelterless and alone in the open country, hearing the wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary night; to listen to the falling rain, and crouch for warmth beneath the lee of some old barn or rick, or in the hollow of a tree; are dismal things—but not so dismal as the wandering up and down where shelter is, and beds and sleepers are by thousands; a houseless rejected creature.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
You can’t get rid of poverty by giving people money.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
Poverty keeps together more homes than it breaks up.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian