Air Quote by Ellen Buckingham Mathews
“Were all the pleasures in the world, even pure air, made solely for the rich? I think it is immoral - it is horrible! - that one man may own twenty millions of money, and another has to commit a crime to keep the life in his miserable body. And if I were wealthy, I'd be a spendthrift! It's the spendthrifts who are the real friends of the poor. Some of their money filters through to the very lowest classes.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of the Wolf, 1902
Wealth creates stark inequality; the rich hoard resources while the poor resort to crime, suggesting moral corruption of extreme wealth.
In simple terms: Rich hoard while poor suffer.
Key Takeaway
Critique extreme wealth disparity.
Themes
inequality
morality
wealth distribution
Mood
critical
somber
Type
social
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- charitable initiatives
- public discourse
Key Concepts
social justice
economic disparity
ethical critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does wealth concentration affect societal health?
- What responsibilities do the affluent have?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex economic systems.
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![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)