Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the…
““Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp; Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, That thou mayst shake the superflux to them, And show the heavens more just.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Compassion requires feeling the suffering of others and confronting injustice, even when it is uncomfortable.
In simple terms: Empathy demands shared pain and action.
Key Takeaway
Feel others’ pain to act justly.
Themes
compassion
justice
empathy
Mood
reflective
urgent
Type
literary
ethical
When to use this quote
- poverty relief
- disaster response
- advocacy
- human rights work
Key Concepts
ethical responsibility
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to “expose thyself” to others’ pain?
- How can we balance self‑care with empathy?
A Different Perspective
People may resist confronting their own discomfort.