Poor richard Quote by Jane Austen
““...that the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, hopeless son; and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his twentieth year; that he had been sent to sea, because he was stupid and unmanageable on shore; that he had been very little cared for at any time by his family, though quite as much as he deserved; seldom heard of, and scarcely at all regretted... He had, in fact, though his sisters were now doing all they could for him, by calling him 'poor Richard,' been nothing better than a thick-headed, unfeeling, unprofitable Dick Musgrove, who had never done anything to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name, living or dead.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Sense and Sensibility, 1811
A family’s tragic son is dismissed as a burden, reflecting neglect and lack of compassion.
In simple terms: Family neglect leads to a wasted life.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and support struggling relatives.
Themes
family
neglect
tragedy
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- mental health support
- community outreach
- education on empathy
Key Concepts
social responsibility
empathy
inheritance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can families better support troubled members?
- What responsibilities do societies have toward neglected individuals?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize the son’s flaws, ignoring systemic factors.
![“Everybody is taken in at some period or another. [...] In marriage especially. [...] There is not one in a hundred of either sex, who is not taken in when they marry. Look where I will, I see that it is so; and I feel that it must be so, when I consider that it is, of all transactions, the one in…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37a/jane-austen-39_marriage_everybody-is-taken-in-at-some-period-or_7175.jpg)
