--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can connect with peoples' pain because…" description: "\"I can connect with peoples' pain because I was 'po' before I was 'poor'.\" — Herman Cain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png" --- # I can connect with peoples' pain because I was 'po' before… ![“I can connect with peoples' pain because I was 'po' before I was 'poor'.” quote by Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png) > “I can connect with peoples' pain because I was 'po' before I was 'poor'.” [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having endured hardship, one can empathize deeply with others' suffering. **In simple terms:** Shared struggle builds empathy. Key Takeaway Leverage personal hardship to connect. Themes empathy resilience social connection Mood empathetic inspirational Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - counseling - leadership - community service - conflict resolution Key Concepts sociology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When have you turned pain into understanding? - How does vulnerability affect leadership? A Different Perspective Empathy may be limited if experiences differ too greatly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) ## Related quotes > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [One of the most abused country on earth is Mexico. The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/) [Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/) ## More by Herman Cain > [Whether you were talking about Pillsbury, Burger King, Godfather's, the National Restaurant Association, in each one of those situations, I had a daunting problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/whether-you-were-talking-about-pillsbury-burger-king-godfather-s-the/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [People who oppose Obama are said to be racists - so I guess I'm a racist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/people-who-oppose-obama-are-said-to-be-racists-so-i-guess-i-m-a-racist/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [It is the policies of the Obama Administration that has led to a stagnated economy as well as high unemployment, as well as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/it-is-the-policies-of-the-obama-administration-that-has-led-to-a/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [I'm not supposed to know anything about foreign policy. Just thought I'd throw that out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-m-not-supposed-to-know-anything-about-foreign-policy-just-thought-i/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [I think 'Hail to the Chief' needs a little bit fresher sound. I might put some gospel beats in 'Hail to the Chief.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-think-hail-to-the-chief-needs-a-little-bit-fresher-sound-i-might/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [I would have to have people totally committed to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of this United States. And many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-would-have-to-have-people-totally-committed-to-the-declaration-of/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [I am suspending my presidential campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-am-suspending-my-presidential-campaign/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [I could eat black walnut all the time, it's not a flavor of the week!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-could-eat-black-walnut-all-the-time-it-s-not-a-flavor-of-the-week/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [This economy is on life support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/this-economy-is-on-life-support/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [In order to fix Social Security, we must restructure it so that we continue to provide for our Nation's seniors that are approaching retirement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/in-order-to-fix-social-security-we-must-restructure-it-so-that-we/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [I think that taxes would be fair if we first get rid of the tax code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-think-that-taxes-would-be-fair-if-we-first-get-rid-of-the-tax-code/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [The American dream is under attack because our government has been hijacked by the Liberals in Washington DC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/the-american-dream-is-under-attack-because-our-government-has-been/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [If the world market believed that we were serious about energy independence and we were going to utilize all of our own existing resources,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/if-the-world-market-believed-that-we-were-serious-about-energy/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [If you touch the hearts of people you can get people's minds to change, but you have to show them the beauty of not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/if-you-touch-the-hearts-of-people-you-can-get-people-s-minds-to/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [There are people who make things happen. There are people who watch things happen and then there are people who ask well, what in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/there-are-people-who-make-things-happen-there-are-people-who-watch/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) [Explore all 125 Herman Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) ## More I can quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) Browse all 24,836 I can quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can connect with peoples' pain because I was 'po' before I was 'poor'.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Cain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because-i-was-po-before-i-was-poor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I can" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because-i-was-po-before-i-was-poor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/herman-cain-3645_i-can_i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because_264906.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can connect with peoples' pain because I was 'po' before I was 'poor'.” — Herman Cain", "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": "Herman Cain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can connect with peoples' pain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because-i-was-po-before-i-was-poor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-can-connect-with-peoples-pain-because-i-was-po-before-i-was-poor/#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 } } ] } ```