--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But then we did not think of ourselves as…" description: "\"“But then we did not think of ourselves as poor. We did not accept it. we thought we were superior people and other people that we looked down on and r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/ernest-hemingway-83_love_but-then-we-did-not-think-of-ourselves-a_2193344.jpg" --- # But then we did not think of ourselves as poor. We did not… ![“But then we did not think of ourselves as poor. We did not accept it. we thought we were superior people and other people that we looked down on and rightly mistrusted were rich.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/ernest-hemingway-83_love_but-then-we-did-not-think-of-ourselves-a_2193344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/ernest-hemingway-83_love_but-then-we-did-not-think-of-ourselves-a_2193344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/ernest-hemingway-83_love_but-then-we-did-not-think-of-ourselves-a_2193344.jpg) > ““But then we did not think of ourselves as poor. We did not accept it. we thought we were superior people and other people that we looked down on and rightly mistrusted were rich.”” [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often deny their own poverty and view themselves as superior, mistrusting those they deem richer. **In simple terms:** Denial of poverty and superiority complex. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront self‑deception about class. Themes class self‑perception social hierarchy humility Mood reflective critical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - personal reflection - social analysis - economic discussions Key Concepts psychology sociology identity Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑image affect treatment of others? - What steps can reduce class‑based mistrust? A Different Perspective Assuming superiority can blind one to real inequalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“But then we did not think ever of ourselves as poor. We did not accept it. 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Little people talk about other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whitfield/superior-people-talk-about-ideas-mediocre-people-talk-about-things/) [John Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whitfield/) > [“Although white women as a group lost the most in welfare reform, they got the one bone that's always been thrown to white working-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-briggs/although-white-women-as-a-group-lost-the-most-in-welfare-reform-they/) [Laura Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-briggs/) ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. 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