--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Large houses are still occupied, while…" description: "\"“Large houses are still occupied, while spinners’ and weavers’ cottages stand empty, because the families that once filled them are obliged to live in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/elizabeth-gaskell-894_bad-time_large-houses-are-still-occupied-while-sp_2007998.jpg" --- # Large houses are still occupied, while spinners’ and… ![“Large houses are still occupied, while spinners’ and weavers’ cottages stand empty, because the families that once filled them are obliged to live in rooms or cellars. Carriages still roll along the streets, concerts are still crowded by subscribers, the shops for expensive luxuries still find…” quote by Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/elizabeth-gaskell-894_bad-time_large-houses-are-still-occupied-while-sp_2007998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/elizabeth-gaskell-894_bad-time_large-houses-are-still-occupied-while-sp_2007998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/elizabeth-gaskell-894_bad-time_large-houses-are-still-occupied-while-sp_2007998.jpg) > ““Large houses are still occupied, while spinners’ and weavers’ cottages stand empty, because the families that once filled them are obliged to live in rooms or cellars. Carriages still roll along the streets, concerts are still crowded by subscribers, the shops for expensive luxuries still find daily customers, while the workman loiters away his unemployed time in watching these things, and thinking of the pale, uncomplaining wife at home, and the wailing children asking in vain for enough of food — of the sinking health, of the dying life of those near and dear to him. The contrast is too great. Why should he alone suffer from bad times? I know that this is not really the case; and I know what is the truth in such matters; but what I wish to impress is what the workman feels and thinks. True, that with child-like improvidence, good times will often dissipate his grumbling, and make him forget all prudence and foresight. But there are earnest men among these people, men who have endured wrongs without complaining, but without ever forgetting or forgiving those whom (they believe) have caused all this woe. Among”” [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrative contrasts wealth and poverty, highlighting the workman's suffering amid societal excess. **In simple terms:** Richness coexists with deep hardship for laborers. Key Takeaway Address inequality with empathy and action. Themes social class inequality industrialization Mood somber reflective Type literary social critique When to use this quote - factory work - housing policy - public health - education reform Key Concepts economic disparity labor rights urbanization Questions to Reflect On - How can society reduce such stark contrasts? - What responsibilities do the affluent hold? A Different Perspective May romanticize the poor’s endurance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-times/) [Dying Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying-life/) [Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) ## Related quotes > [“At all times it is a bewildering thing to the poor weaver to see his employer removing from house to house, each one grander…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/at-all-times-it-is-a-bewildering-thing-to-the-poor-weaver-to-see-his/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [The aim is to burn through to first thoughts, to the place where energy is unobstructed by social politeness or the internal censor, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/the-aim-is-to-burn-through-to-first-thoughts-to-the-place-where/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [We are all dying of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jakes/we-are-all-dying-of-life/) [John Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jakes/) > [“Only in silence the word, Only in dark the light, Only in dying life: Bright the hawk's flight On the empty sky. —The Creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/only-in-silence-the-word-only-in-dark-the-light-only-in-dying-life-2/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Some things are not worth dying for, but without them life is not worth living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-things-are-not-worth-dying-for-but-without-them-life-is-not/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [My grandmother made dying her life's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-leonard/my-grandmother-made-dying-her-life-s-work/) [Hugh Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-leonard/) > [All life is dying life – including the life of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cupitt/all-life-is-dying-life-including-the-life-of-god/) [Don Cupitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cupitt/) > [A lot can come to my mind in seconds,like when I realize that life is to short and it goes by so quick. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karisix/a-lot-can-come-to-my-mind-in-seconds-like-when-i-realize-that-life-is/) [KariSix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karisix/) > [Only in silence the word, only in dark the light, only in dying life: bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/only-in-silence-the-word-only-in-dark-the-light-only-in-dying-life/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Life is not lost -dying; life is lost minute -minute, day -dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/life-is-not-lost-dying-life-is-lost-minute-minute-day-dragging-day-in/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [“A student asked me recently why somebody always dies in my books. I said, because somebody is always dying in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/a-student-asked-me-recently-why-somebody-always-dies-in-my-books-i/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [“All life will die, all mind will cease, and it will all be as if it had never happened. That, to be honest, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/all-life-will-die-all-mind-will-cease-and-it-will-all-be-as-if-it-had/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [I bet the worst part about dying is the part where your whole life passes before you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/i-bet-the-worst-part-about-dying-is-the-part-where-your-whole-life/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/life-is-not-lost-by-dying-life-is-lost-minute-by-minute-day-by/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [“America, and all it had once stood for--all he had fought for--was dying...on life support, and counting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cori/america-and-all-it-had-once-stood-for-all-he-had-fought-for-was-dying/) [Patricia Cori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cori/) ## More by Elizabeth Gaskell > [“Osborne and Roger knowing that the wife of the former was a Frenchwoman, and, conscious of each other's knowledge, felt doubly awkward; while Molly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/osborne-and-roger-knowing-that-the-wife-of-the-former-was-a/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [But Margaret went less abroad, among machinery and men; saw less of power in its public effect, and, as it happened, she was thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-margaret-went-less-abroad-among-machinery-and-men-saw-less-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“And besides, in the matter of friendship, I have observed that the disappointment here arises chiefly, not from liking our friends too well, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/and-besides-in-the-matter-of-friendship-i-have-observed-that-the/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/what-other-people-may-think-of-the-rightness-or-wrongness-is-nothing/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“The first question sobbed out by his choking voice, oppressed with emotion, was-- "Where is she?" They led him to the room where his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/the-first-question-sobbed-out-by-his-choking-voice-oppressed-with/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Wearily she went to bed, wearily she arose in four or five hours' time. But with the morning came hope, and a brighter view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/wearily-she-went-to-bed-wearily-she-arose-in-four-or-five-hours-time/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-one-loves-me-no-one-cares-for-me-but-you-mother/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/i-won-t-say-she-was-silly-but-i-think-one-of-us-was-silly-and-it-wasn/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Mr. Thorton love Margaret! Why, Margraret would never think of him, I'm sure! Such a thing has never entered her head." "Entering her heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/mr-thorton-love-margaret-why-margraret-would-never-think-of-him-i-m/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“He never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-never-looked-at-her-and-yet-the-careful-avoidance-of-his-eyes/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Ay! but mother's words are scarce, and weigh heavy. Father's liker me, and we talk a deal o' rubble; but mother's words are liker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/ay-but-mother-s-words-are-scarce-and-weigh-heavy-father-s-liker-me/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Margaret liked this smile; it was the first thing she had admired in this new friend of her father's; and the opposition of character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/margaret-liked-this-smile-it-was-the-first-thing-she-had-admired-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Don’t be afraid,” she said, coldly, “ as far as love may go she may be worthy of you. It must have taken a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/don-t-be-afraid-she-said-coldly-as-far-as-love-may-go-she-may-be/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) [Explore all 330 Elizabeth Gaskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## More Bad time quotes > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My friends and family are my support system. They tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/my-friends-and-family-are-my-support-system-they-tell-me-what-i-need/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [Always respect, honour And Pray for those who helped you in your bad time. Also be thankful to bad time, For showing you those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/always-respect-honour-and-pray-for-those-who-helped-you-in-your-bad/) Pacifiersucker > [It's certainly been very important to have my own family with me. They came with me to Italy, left what they had in Brazil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/it-s-certainly-been-very-important-to-have-my-own-family-with-me-they/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [The passing of John Bonham... Let's just put it... Before we say, 'the passing of John Bonham,' the introduction of John Bonham on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-passing-of-john-bonham-let-s-just-put-it-before-we-say-the/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [The good time become good memories. The bad time become good lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/the-good-time-become-good-memories-the-bad-time-become-good-lesson/) Glemar > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [“Don’t let the bad times get you down, You have some of those moments where life tells you, it’s time to cry. Without those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-mcdaniel-on-the-savage-side/don-t-let-the-bad-times-get-you-down-you-have-some-of-those-moments/) Tiffany McDaniel, On the Savage Side > [The comments I most appreciate come from ordinary readers who've happened on one of my books at some time of stress in their lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-saberhagen/the-comments-i-most-appreciate-come-from-ordinary-readers-who-ve/) [Fred Saberhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-saberhagen/) > [Everybody need a partner to stand right by their side. Not only down for the good times. But also down through the bad times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/everybody-need-a-partner-to-stand-right-by-their-side-not-only-down/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I don't know if it's fair to say that it's a bad time for movies. It seems to me that throughout the entire history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-fair-to-say-that-it-s-a-bad-time-for-movies-it/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Love is . . . Being happy for the other person when they are happy, Being sad for the person when they are sad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/love-is-being-happy-for-the-other-person-when-they-are-happy-being/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Don't give up on yourself. Fight for yourself and what you stand for. In life, you've got to go through some bad times to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-give-up-on-yourself-fight-for-yourself-and-what-you-stand-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad? He died when I was 19, which is a bad time for your dad to die, because there's an awful lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-dad-he-died-when-i-was-19-which-is-a-bad-time-for-your-dad-to-die/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “My dear friend, clear your mind of cant \[excessive thought\]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, "Sir,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/my-dear-friend-clear-your-mind-of-cant-excessive-thought-you-may-talk/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) Browse all 638 Bad time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Large houses are still occupied, while spinners’ and weavers’ cottages stand empty, because the families that once filled them are obliged to live in rooms or cellars. Carriages still roll along the streets, concerts are still crowded by subscribers, the shops for expensive luxuries still find daily customers, while the workman loiters away his unemployed time in watching these things, and thinking of the pale, uncomplaining wife at home, and the wailing children asking in vain for enough of food — of the sinking health, of the dying life of those near and dear to him. The contrast is too great. Why should he alone suffer from bad times? I know that this is not really the case; and I know what is the truth in such matters; but what I wish to impress is what the workman feels and thinks. True, that with child-like improvidence, good times will often dissipate his grumbling, and make him forget all prudence and foresight. But there are earnest men among these people, men who have endured wrongs without complaining, but without ever forgetting or forgiving those whom (they believe) have caused all this woe. 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