--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that a man who shows me his wealth…" description: "\"I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png" --- # I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the… ![“I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alms of my envy, the poor man for the alms of my guilt.” quote by Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png) > “I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alms of my envy, the poor man for the alms of my guilt.” [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth and poverty both seek validation, using envy or guilt as their currency. **In simple terms:** Both rich and poor seek something from you. Key Takeaway Recognize when others are seeking emotional exchange. Themes validation power emotions social dynamics Mood cautious reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - networking - leadership - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology status reciprocity Questions to Reflect On - What do you offer when someone shows off wealth or poverty? - How do you respond to implicit emotional requests? A Different Perspective Not all interactions are sincere; motives may be hidden. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) [Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Envy Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-poor-1520679/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Like Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-beggar-1087623/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-man/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-man/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Shows Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows-poverty-1520680/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“To be in continual ecstasies over nature shows poverty of imagination. In comparison with what my imagination can give me, all these streams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/to-be-in-continual-ecstasies-over-nature-shows-poverty-of-imagination/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [A bachelor lives like a king and dies like a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-s-lowry/a-bachelor-lives-like-a-king-and-dies-like-a-beggar/) [L. S. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-s-lowry/) > [“I recall how miserable I was, and how one day you brought me to a realization of my miserable state. I was preparing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/i-recall-how-miserable-i-was-and-how-one-day-you-brought-me-to-a/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [When you go into the temple you are like the beggar who sits beside the temple, but if you dont give him something then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/when-you-go-into-the-temple-you-are-like-the-beggar-who-sits-beside/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [One of our predecessors said, "Throwing away the inexhaustible treasury of your own home, you go with your bowl from door to door, acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/one-of-our-predecessors-said-throwing-away-the-inexhaustible-treasury/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Don’t knock on any random door like a beggar. Reach your long hand out to another door, beyond where you go on the street,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/don-t-knock-on-any-random-door-like-a-beggar-reach-your-long-hand-out/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Torch strode over and stared at the fiver "What's this?" "Some change for you. Buy your flunkies some decent clothes." I dipped my fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/torch-strode-over-and-stared-at-the-fiver-what-s-this-some-change-for/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I would rather be a beggar and spend my money like a king, than be a king and spend money like a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-would-rather-be-a-beggar-and-spend-my-money-like-a-king-than-be-a/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [There is no pride like that of a beggar grown rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-proverb/there-is-no-pride-like-that-of-a-beggar-grown-rich/) [French Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-proverb/) > [You are the honoured guest, Do not weep like a beggar For pieces of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-are-the-honoured-guest-do-not-weep-like-a-beggar-for-pieces-of/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Oh, Donald,” (this was Guy Clarence’s name), Janet exclaimed alarmedly, “why did you offer that little girl your sixpence? I’m sure she is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/oh-donald-this-was-guy-clarence-s-name-janet-exclaimed-alarmedly-why/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [A teacher giving lectures without knowledge is like a beggar selling books on how to become rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-teacher-giving-lectures-without-knowledge-is-like-a-beggar-selling/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“I'd rather live like a beggar in my own country, than like a king in a foreign land.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-bartram/i-d-rather-live-like-a-beggar-in-my-own-country-than-like-a-king-in-a/) [R.L. Bartram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-bartram/) > [The best remedy for dryness of spirit, is to picture ourselves as beggars in the presence of God and the Saints, and like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-neri/the-best-remedy-for-dryness-of-spirit-is-to-picture-ourselves-as/) [Philip Neri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-neri/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) ## More by Ben Hecht > [People's sex habits are as well known in Hollywood as their political opinions, and much less criticized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/people-s-sex-habits-are-as-well-known-in-hollywood-as-their-political/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Movies are one of the bad habits that have corrupted our century. They have slipped into the American mind more misinformation in one evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/movies-are-one-of-the-bad-habits-that-have-corrupted-our-century-they/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Chicago is a sort of journalistic Yellowstone Park, offering haven to a last herd of fantastic bravos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/chicago-is-a-sort-of-journalistic-yellowstone-park-offering-haven-to/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Listen, little boy. In this business, there's only one law you gotta follow to keep outta trouble. Do it first, do it yourself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/listen-little-boy-in-this-business-there-s-only-one-law-you-gotta/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [There's only one law you gotta follow to keep outta trouble. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doin' it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/there-s-only-one-law-you-gotta-follow-to-keep-outta-trouble-do-it/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [The only practical way yet discovered by the world for curing its ills is to forget about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/the-only-practical-way-yet-discovered-by-the-world-for-curing-its/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Since my boyhood, I have sought always to please, but out of a kindness in me, never out of fear or respect for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/since-my-boyhood-i-have-sought-always-to-please-but-out-of-a-kindness/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [“was asked, ‘Can you bring six million Jews to Palestine?’ I replied, ‘No.’ . . . The old ones will pass. They will bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/was-asked-can-you-bring-six-million-jews-to-palestine-i-replied-no/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [“I noticed early that pompous people have actually less a high opinion of themselves than a desire to create such an opinion in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-noticed-early-that-pompous-people-have-actually-less-a-high-opinion/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Three years ago, the white hope of the theatre. Today, a mug. That's New York for you. Puts you on a Christmas tree, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/three-years-ago-the-white-hope-of-the-theatre-today-a-mug-that-s-new/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Television excites me because it seems to be the last stamping ground of poetry, the last place where I hear women's hair rhapsodically described,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/television-excites-me-because-it-seems-to-be-the-last-stamping-ground/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [We are going to make sure that there is high-speed broadband available to everyone, and affordable to people historically kept out of it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/we-are-going-to-make-sure-that-there-is-high-speed-broadband/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/there-was-a-land-of-cavaliers-and-cotton-fields-called-the-old-south/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Out of the seventy movies I've written some ten of them were not entirely waste product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/out-of-the-seventy-movies-i-ve-written-some-ten-of-them-were-not/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [Immorality, perversion, infidelity, cannibalism, etc., are unassailable by church and civic league if you dress them up in the togas and talliths of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/immorality-perversion-infidelity-cannibalism-etc-are-unassailable-by/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) [Explore all 76 Ben Hecht quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) ## More Alms quotes > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In giving alms, let us rather look at the needs of the poor than his claim to your charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-giving-alms-let-us-rather-look-at-the-needs-of-the-poor-than-his/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/those-good-men-who-take-such-pleasure-in-relieving-the-miserable-for/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Alms (is) for the purity of your soul, and flourishment and expansion of your sustenence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-bint-muhammad/alms-is-for-the-purity-of-your-soul-and-flourishment-and-expansion-of/) [Fatima bint Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-bint-muhammad/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-setting-sun-is-reflected-from-the-windows-of-the-alms-house-as/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Pesa itolewe kwa masharti au bila masharti chukua, kwani huyo aliyeitoa si yake. Benki, kwa mfano, ikitaka kukupa mkopo itakuwa na masharti yake; chukua,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/pesa-itolewe-kwa-masharti-au-bila-masharti-chukua-kwani-huyo/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [The best remedy for dryness of spirit, is to picture ourselves as beggars in the presence of God and the Saints, and like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-neri/the-best-remedy-for-dryness-of-spirit-is-to-picture-ourselves-as/) [Philip Neri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-neri/) > [Walking does good to the fat and giving alms does good to the sinners; these both make one feel lighter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/walking-does-good-to-the-fat-and-giving-alms-does-good-to-the-sinners/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-birds-which-go-forth-at-morning/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/where-there-is-plenty-charity-is-a-duty-not-a-courtesy/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/) [Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/) > [But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-what-if-i-should-discover-that-the-least-amongst-them-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Yet, when we must put aside our wrath, quench our envy, soften our anger, offer our prayers, and show a disposition which is reasonable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/yet-when-we-must-put-aside-our-wrath-quench-our-envy-soften-our-anger/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Browse all 124 Alms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alms of my envy, the poor man for the alms of my guilt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Hecht" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/ben-hecht-8979_alms_i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealt_133058.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking…” — Ben Hecht", "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": "Ben Hecht", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know that a man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/#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 } } ] } ```