--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s why it is often easier to keep…" description: "\"“That’s why it is often easier to keep people who are poor at a distance—or to arrange to enter their world only through brief visits. Close proximity ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/christopher-l-heuertz-46063_quote_that-s-why-it-is-often-easier-to-keep-pe_1466187.jpg" --- # That’s why it is often easier to keep people who are poor… ![“That’s why it is often easier to keep people who are poor at a distance—or to arrange to enter their world only through brief visits. Close proximity makes us more conscious of both abundance and lack. Friendships can move us to choose generosity over stinginess and modesty over extravagance.” quote by Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/christopher-l-heuertz-46063_quote_that-s-why-it-is-often-easier-to-keep-pe_1466187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/christopher-l-heuertz-46063_quote_that-s-why-it-is-often-easier-to-keep-pe_1466187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/christopher-l-heuertz-46063_quote_that-s-why-it-is-often-easier-to-keep-pe_1466187.jpg) > ““That’s why it is often easier to keep people who are poor at a distance—or to arrange to enter their world only through brief visits. Close proximity makes us more conscious of both abundance and lack. Friendships can move us to choose generosity over stinginess and modesty over extravagance.”” [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Close contact with poverty highlights both scarcity and abundance, prompting generosity over stinginess. **In simple terms:** Seeing poverty up close inspires generosity. Key Takeaway Engage directly with diverse socioeconomic groups. Themes empathy generosity social inequality Mood reflective empathetic Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - community work - policy design - education - personal relationships Key Concepts sociology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain empathy without burnout? - What structures support equitable generosity? A Different Perspective Direct exposure may cause compassion fatigue or bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close Proximity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-proximity-1516205/) [Friendships Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendships-choose-5112870/) [Generosity Stinginess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity-stinginess-5309279/) [Proximity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proximity/) [Stinginess Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stinginess-modesty-5309280/) ## Related quotes > [When you're on tour you definitely don't want lots of arguments. It's very important that everybody gets on because you're in close proximity a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/when-you-re-on-tour-you-definitely-don-t-want-lots-of-arguments-it-s/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [“Birds of the same plume perambulate in close proximity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dithapelo-keorapetse/birds-of-the-same-plume-perambulate-in-close-proximity/) [Dithapelo Keorapetse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dithapelo-keorapetse/) > [I'm realizing I need to be in close proximity to everyone I'm working with because that - I don't know - it keeps me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-m-realizing-i-need-to-be-in-close-proximity-to-everyone-i-m-working/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [“Zen is relevant as long as human beings are in close proximity to one another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/zen-is-relevant-as-long-as-human-beings-are-in-close-proximity-to-one/) [VD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vd/) > [“Her lips are in close proximity to mine, so of course I have to kiss them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/her-lips-are-in-close-proximity-to-mine-so-of-course-i-have-to-kiss/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I love to think on my feet, and I love to be able to feel from a close proximity how things are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-mcbryde/i-love-to-think-on-my-feet-and-i-love-to-be-able-to-feel-from-a-close/) [Ashley McBryde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-mcbryde/) > [“The close proximity in which people lived in India was in stark contrast to my independent existence in America.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/the-close-proximity-in-which-people-lived-in-india-was-in-stark/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [Even though I was in close proximity to everything, it never really dawned on me to pursue a career in show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/even-though-i-was-in-close-proximity-to-everything-it-never-really/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [A weird side effect of being in close proximity to death is an urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-elverum/a-weird-side-effect-of-being-in-close-proximity-to-death-is-an-urgency/) [Phil Elverum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-elverum/) > [If I had to choose between the band or the friendships, I'd choose the friendships at this point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/if-i-had-to-choose-between-the-band-or-the-friendships-i-d-choose-the/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [There are certainly times in history where power associates itself closely with fields that we would call the humanities, like rulers surrounding themselves with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/there-are-certainly-times-in-history-where-power-associates-itself/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [Life's extremities can bring God's proximity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-a-cannon/life-s-extremities-can-bring-god-s-proximity/) [Elaine A. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-a-cannon/) > [For several years I've been writing 100-word pieces. More recently I've been putting them together in groups of two and three. I don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-moore/for-several-years-i-ve-been-writing-100-word-pieces-more-recently-i/) [Jim Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-moore/) > [I write in longhand. I am accustomed to that proximity, that feel of writing. Then I sit down and type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/i-write-in-longhand-i-am-accustomed-to-that-proximity-that-feel-of/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [How could they say that they truly loved each other? They had simply grown up together, been children together, and the proximity of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/how-could-they-say-that-they-truly-loved-each-other-they-had-simply/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) ## More by Christopher L. Heuertz > [“In addition, a disturbing number of congregations make it clear that they don’t really want people whose lives are a mess (especially after they’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/in-addition-a-disturbing-number-of-congregations-make-it-clear-that/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) > [“When we allow ourselves to be disarmed, we become both vulnerable and strong. The only weapons then at our disposal are those of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/when-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disarmed-we-become-both-vulnerable-and/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) > [“Mission in our neighborhoods or social ministry across town can be reframed when we recognize that friendship and love belong at the heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/mission-in-our-neighborhoods-or-social-ministry-across-town-can-be/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) > [“Real friendship involves movement in and out of one another’s worlds, but our privilege, location and busyness often make us inaccessible to friendships with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/real-friendship-involves-movement-in-and-out-of-one-another-s-worlds/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) > [“If we are committed to friendship at the margins, all of us need to ask what kind of spirituality will sustain us over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/if-we-are-committed-to-friendship-at-the-margins-all-of-us-need-to/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) > [“A focus on friendship rearranges our assumptions. What if the resources they have also meet our needs? What if Jesus is already present in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/a-focus-on-friendship-rearranges-our-assumptions-what-if-the/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) > [“Jesus invites us to think about the people with whom we share meals. He isn’t saying that we should ignore our family and friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/jesus-invites-us-to-think-about-the-people-with-whom-we-share-meals/) [Christopher L. Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) [Explore all 8 Christopher L. Heuertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-l-heuertz/) ## More Proximity quotes > [How could they say that they truly loved each other? They had simply grown up together, been children together, and the proximity of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/how-could-they-say-that-they-truly-loved-each-other-they-had-simply/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [I write in longhand. I am accustomed to that proximity, that feel of writing. Then I sit down and type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/i-write-in-longhand-i-am-accustomed-to-that-proximity-that-feel-of/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [For several years I've been writing 100-word pieces. More recently I've been putting them together in groups of two and three. I don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-moore/for-several-years-i-ve-been-writing-100-word-pieces-more-recently-i/) [Jim Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-moore/) > [Life's extremities can bring God's proximity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-a-cannon/life-s-extremities-can-bring-god-s-proximity/) [Elaine A. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-a-cannon/) > [There are certainly times in history where power associates itself closely with fields that we would call the humanities, like rulers surrounding themselves with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/there-are-certainly-times-in-history-where-power-associates-itself/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [We acquire the love of people who, being in our proximity, are presumed to know us; and we receive reputation or celebrity, from such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-augustus-henry-sala/we-acquire-the-love-of-people-who-being-in-our-proximity-are-presumed/) [George Augustus Henry Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-augustus-henry-sala/) > [The reason I'm in San Diego is not because I want distance from South Africa but because I want proximity to the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/the-reason-i-m-in-san-diego-is-not-because-i-want-distance-from-south/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [It was through the private world of family that the public world of politics came alive for me: living in intimate proximity with people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-gandhi/it-was-through-the-private-world-of-family-that-the-public-world-of/) [Sonia Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-gandhi/) > [Some teachers are very accessible. They advertise a great deal, they go out into the public. If they're advanced teachers, doubtlessly they are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/some-teachers-are-very-accessible-they-advertise-a-great-deal-they-go/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A weird side effect of being in close proximity to death is an urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-elverum/a-weird-side-effect-of-being-in-close-proximity-to-death-is-an-urgency/) [Phil Elverum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-elverum/) > [Books can accommodate the proximity of computers but it doesn't seem to work the other way around. Computers now literally drive out books from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/books-can-accommodate-the-proximity-of-computers-but-it-doesn-t-seem/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [As you all become more intimate with Me, with opportunities to come closer to Me, all that is good and bad within you comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/as-you-all-become-more-intimate-with-me-with-opportunities-to-come/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [As you do with any band you're in, you get to know everyone too well all too soon. When you're crammed into a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/as-you-do-with-any-band-you-re-in-you-get-to-know-everyone-too-well/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“We were too close, I thought, I'd never been so close to him except in a dream or when he cupped his hand to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/we-were-too-close-i-thought-i-d-never-been-so-close-to-him-except-in/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [There is much more to schools than buildings. There are academic activities, how it reaches the community and its proximity to other programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warner/there-is-much-more-to-schools-than-buildings-there-are-academic/) [John Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warner/) [Browse all 198 Proximity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proximity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That’s why it is often easier to keep people who are poor at a distance—or to arrange to enter their world only through brief visits. Close proximity makes us more conscious of both abundance and lack. Friendships can move us to choose generosity over stinginess and modesty over extravagance.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher L. 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