--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What signifies, says some one, giving…" description: "\"What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. \"And why should they be denied such sweeteners of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_acceptance_what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-half_2368722.jpg" --- # What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to… ![“What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. "And why should they be denied such sweeteners of their existence (says Johnson)? it is surely very savage to refuse them every possible avenue to pleasure, reckoned too coarse for our own…” quote by Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_acceptance_what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-half_2368722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_acceptance_what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-half_2368722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_acceptance_what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-half_2368722.jpg) > “What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. "And why should they be denied such sweeteners of their existence (says Johnson)? it is surely very savage to refuse them every possible avenue to pleasure, reckoned too coarse for our own acceptance. Life is a pill which none of us can bear to swallow without gilding; yet for the poor we delight in stripping it still barer, and are not ashamed to shew even visible displeasure, if ever the bitter taste is taken from their mouths."” [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques the hypocrisy of denying the poor simple comforts while criticizing them for seeking it, highlighting societal cruelty toward the disadvantaged. **In simple terms:** Denial of small comforts to the poor is cruel. Key Takeaway Recognize and address basic needs of the vulnerable. Themes social justice poverty hypocrisy compassion Mood reflective critical empathetic Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - public policy - community aid - charitable programs - social welfare - education on inequality Key Concepts ethics human dignity class disparity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance moral responsibility with resource allocation? - What small actions can reduce suffering without paternalism? A Different Perspective Even with basic comforts, deeper systemic inequities remain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Bitter taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-taste/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Displeasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displeasure/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) ## Related quotes > [What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. "And why should they be denied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-halfpence-to-beggars-they-only/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Life is a pill which none of us can bear to swallow without gilding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/life-is-a-pill-which-none-of-us-can-bear-to-swallow-without-gilding/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“I am like a little child naked in a strong wind. I have a fever, I shiver, I'm too hot or too cold. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachilde/i-am-like-a-little-child-naked-in-a-strong-wind-i-have-a-fever-i/) [Rachilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachilde/) > [“The Witcher had a knife to his throat. He was wallowing in a wooden tub, brimfull with soapsuds, his head thrown agains the slippery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-sapkowski/the-witcher-had-a-knife-to-his-throat-he-was-wallowing-in-a-wooden/) [Andrzej Sapkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-sapkowski/) > [things that have cost more than they're worth leave a bitter taste. A taste of salt and sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-winslow-johnson/things-that-have-cost-more-than-they-re-worth-leave-a-bitter-taste-a/) [Josephine Winslow Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-winslow-johnson/) > [“You go first," Four says. Eric shrug. "Edward." Four leans against the door frame and nods. The moonlight makes his eyes bright. He scans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-go-first-four-says-eric-shrug-edward-four-leans-against-the-door/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-bud-may-have-a-bitter-taste-but-sweet-will-be-the-flower/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [The taste of democracy becomes a bitter taste when the fullness of democracy is denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/the-taste-of-democracy-becomes-a-bitter-taste-when-the-fullness-of/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [“Illusions fall away one after another like the husks of a fruit, and that fruit is experience. It is bitter to the taste, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-rard-de-nerval/illusions-fall-away-one-after-another-like-the-husks-of-a-fruit-and/) [Gérard de Nerval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-rard-de-nerval/) > [“absinthe removes the bitter taste of failure and grants me strange visions which are charming principally because they cannot be written down. Only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/absinthe-removes-the-bitter-taste-of-failure-and-grants-me-strange/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“Because being a fan is not all about the good times when victory makes life better. Dealing with defeat helps mold you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tye-turner/because-being-a-fan-is-not-all-about-the-good-times-when-victory/) Mark Tye Turner > [Eat bitter, taste sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/eat-bitter-taste-sweet/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [If revenge is sweet, why does it leave such a bitter taste? In disarming Peter, Christ disarmed ever knight. Turn the other cheek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-elwell-hunt/if-revenge-is-sweet-why-does-it-leave-such-a-bitter-taste-in/) [Angela Elwell Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-elwell-hunt/) > [“But for fear of disheartening them, we also spoke to them of disappointments and the bitter taste that rest has after a useless action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/but-for-fear-of-disheartening-them-we-also-spoke-to-them-of/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“When I was young” … “Before I was twenty, I mean, I used to think that life was a thing that kept gaining impetus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/when-i-was-young-before-i-was-twenty-i-mean-i-used-to-think-that-life/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) ## More by Hester Lynch Piozzi > [We look on those approaching the banks of a river all must cross, with ten times the interest they excited when dancing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/we-look-on-those-approaching-the-banks-of-a-river-all-must-cross-with/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [The pleasures of intimacy in friendship depend far more on external circumstances than people of a sentimental turn of mind are willing to concede;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/the-pleasures-of-intimacy-in-friendship-depend-far-more-on-external/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Friendship is far more delicate than love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/friendship-is-far-more-delicate-than-love/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [I think character never changes; the Acorn becomes an Oak, which is very little like an Acorn to be sure, but it never becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/i-think-character-never-changes-the-acorn-becomes-an-oak-which-is/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [ \[Samuel\] Johnson's conversation was by much too strong for a person accustomed to obsequiousness and flattery; it was mustard in a young child's mouth! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/samuel-johnson-s-conversation-was-by-much-too-strong-for-a-person/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Women bear Crosses better than Men do, but bear Surprizes - worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/women-bear-crosses-better-than-men-do-but-bear-surprizes-worse/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [“Living at Venice is like a Journey to the Moon somehow…And a sweet Planet it is!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/living-at-venice-is-like-a-journey-to-the-moon-somehow-and-a-sweet/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [A physician can sometimes parry the scythe of death, but has no power over the sand in the hourglass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/a-physician-can-sometimes-parry-the-scythe-of-death-but-has-no-power/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or for their wit that one loves the wittiest; 'tis for benevolence and virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest-or-for-their-wit/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Every one in this world has as much as they can do in caring for themselves, and few have leisure really to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/every-one-in-this-world-has-as-much-as-they-can-do-in-caring-for/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [I am perpetually bringing or losing babies, both very dreadful operations to me, and which tear mind and body both in pieces very cruelly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/i-am-perpetually-bringing-or-losing-babies-both-very-dreadful/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. "And why should they be denied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-halfpence-to-beggars-they-only/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Friendship is far more delicate than love. Quarrels and fretful complaints are attractive in the last, offensive in the first. And the very things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/friendship-is-far-more-delicate-than-love-quarrels-and-fretful/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [... one should know the value of Life better than to pout any part of it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/one-should-know-the-value-of-life-better-than-to-pout-any-part-of-it/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [It is never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/it-is-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) [Explore all 20 Hester Lynch Piozzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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