---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I give food to the poor, they call…"
description: "\"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.\" — Anonymous"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg"
---

#  When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I…

![“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg)

> “When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker critiques how charitable acts are praised while questioning systemic causes draws labeled negatively.

**In simple terms:** Giving is praised; questioning causes is condemned.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper understanding of poverty.

Themes

charity poverty labeling

Mood

critical concerned

Type

social political

When to use this quote

- non‑profit work
- activism
- public policy
- community dialogue

Key Concepts

social critique political discourse

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we support the poor beyond charity?
- Why are systemic critiques stigmatized?

A Different Perspective

Simplistic praise can ignore root problems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Call me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call-me/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Food Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-communist-5557829/) [Food Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-poor-3009037/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-food-320300/) [Poor Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-saint-4130213/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [If you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. If you ask why the poor have no food, they call you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-alc-ntara/if-you-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-you-a-saint-if-you-ask-why-the/)

[Manuel Alcántara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-alc-ntara/)

> [When I give food to the poor,they call me saint. When I ask why the poor have no food,they call me acommunist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-me-saint-when-i-ask-why-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Today, the rich are the haves and the poor are the have-nots. Tomorrow, the rich will be the have-food and the poor will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gaede/today-the-rich-are-the-haves-and-the-poor-are-the-have-nots-tomorrow/)

[Bill Gaede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gaede/)

> [If you feed the poor, you're a saint. If you ask why they're poor, you're a Communist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/if-you-feed-the-poor-you-re-a-saint-if-you-ask-why-they-re-poor-you/)

[Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/)

> [“Never throw away food when you have the poor near you, remember that you are an ambassador of god on earth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/never-throw-away-food-when-you-have-the-poor-near-you-remember-that/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [Colombia was a big wheat producer in the 1950's. That was eliminated by what sounds like a nice plan, called "Food for Peace. "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/colombia-was-a-big-wheat-producer-in-the-1950-s-that-was-eliminated/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [“If you are poor and go without food and clothes, don't hope for wealth in paradise, you are already forsaken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-are-poor-and-go-without-food-and-clothes-don-t-hope-for-wealth/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [Things I didn't have in the past I try to give to kids. I know how it feels not to have things. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mesut-ozil/things-i-didn-t-have-in-the-past-i-try-to-give-to-kids-i-know-how-it/)

[Mesut Ozil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mesut-ozil/)

> [If you wait too long between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner, you're more likely to be ravenous and overeat and/or make poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/if-you-wait-too-long-between-breakfast-and-lunch-or-lunch-and-dinner/)

[Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/)

> [“When it was cooler, Trazada made a simple meal of sausage, cheese, and bread. She had schooled herself to wait dinner until hunger urged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-quinn-yarbro/when-it-was-cooler-trazada-made-a-simple-meal-of-sausage-cheese-and/)

[Chelsea Quinn Yarbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-quinn-yarbro/)

> [What is poor? We had food. We dressed well. We didn't have a lot, but what we had fit, and it was always neat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-payton/what-is-poor-we-had-food-we-dressed-well-we-didn-t-have-a-lot-but/)

[Walter Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-payton/)

> [The writer Denise Chávez comments on poor food and what you associate with luxury food items. In fact, she wrote a whole book called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/the-writer-denise-ch-vez-comments-on-poor-food-and-what-you-associate/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

> [A coat that is not used, the moths eat; and a Christian who is hung up so that he shall not be tempted-the moths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-coat-that-is-not-used-the-moths-eat-and-a-christian-who-is-hung-up/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [You have but mistook me all the while... I live by bread like you, taste grief, feel want, need friends. Conditioned thus how can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-but-mistook-me-all-the-while-i-live-by-bread-like-you-taste/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Never mind what my name is,” the man said. “No one can pronounce it anyway. Just call me Sir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mind-what-my-name-is-the-man-said-no-one-can-pronounce-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Call me quotes

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Call me the rap assassinator / rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/call-me-the-rap-assassinator-rhymes-rugged-and-built-like/)

[Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/)

> [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/)

[Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/)

> [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [I’m 59 and people call me middle aged. How many 118 year old men do you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-cryer/i-m-59-and-people-call-me-middle-aged-how-many-118-year-old-men-do/)

[Barry Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-cryer/)

> [Donald Trump is a pretty casual guy. He calls me Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/donald-trump-is-a-pretty-casual-guy-he-calls-me-paul/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. Hatsuharu… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/shigure-sohma-got-tohru-a-maid-costume-for-white-day-i-can-t-wait-to/)

[Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/)

> [Some people call me the unofficial mayor of Castro Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/some-people-call-me-the-unofficial-mayor-of-castro-street/)

[Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/)

> [What I did for my last act as a painter, if you call me a painter, was to photograph the weave of the canvas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-denes/what-i-did-for-my-last-act-as-a-painter-if-you-call-me-a-painter-was/)

[Agnes Denes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-denes/)

> [It's nice that people can call me an artist and it's nice that I can refer to myself as such, but it also kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matana-roberts/it-s-nice-that-people-can-call-me-an-artist-and-it-s-nice-that-i-can/)

[Matana Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matana-roberts/)

> [Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [You load 16 tons, and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-travis/you-load-16-tons-and-what-do-you-get-another-day-older-and-deeper-in/)

[Merle Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-travis/)

> [Haters call me 'gay,' but their girlfriends want me more than them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/haters-call-me-gay-but-their-girlfriends-want-me-more-than-them/)

[Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/)

[Browse all 958 Call me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call-me/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-me-a-saint-when-i-ask-why-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Call me"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-me-a-saint-when-i-ask-why-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/206/anonymous-1_call-me_when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-m_3218890.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a…” — Anonymous",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I give food to the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-me-a-saint-when-i-ask-why-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-give-food-to-the-poor-they-call-me-a-saint-when-i-ask-why-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
