--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a…" description: "\"Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief, if he held a rich man in his hand?\" — Jethro Tull" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png" --- # Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief, if he held… ![“Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief, if he held a rich man in his hand?” quote by Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png) > “Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief, if he held a rich man in his hand?” [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It suggests that wealth held by a poor person can be a powerful tool, perhaps implying moral or social leverage. **In simple terms:** Holding wealth gives power, even to the poor. Key Takeaway Consider how resources shift power dynamics. Themes power wealth social class morality leverage Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political activism - charitable giving - economic policy - personal finance Key Concepts economics ethics social hierarchy resource distribution influence Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with sudden wealth? - How does wealth affect identity? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt or empower. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) [Beggar Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar-man-4865391/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-beggar-2402348/) [Man Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-thief-3266193/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-man/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-man/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Unanswered questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unanswered-questions/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Sadder than the beggar is the man who eats alone in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/sadder-than-the-beggar-is-the-man-who-eats-alone-in-public/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [A man is a beggar who only lives to the useful, and, however he may serve as a pin or rivet in the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-a-beggar-who-only-lives-to-the-useful-and-however-he-may/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [What is a man if he is not a thief who openly charges as much as he can for the goods he sells?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/what-is-a-man-if-he-is-not-a-thief-who-openly-charges-as-much-as-he/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [A selfish man is a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/a-selfish-man-is-a-thief/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [Man is a thief, an impudent thief! He steals honey from bees, eggs from chickens, milk from cows and life from the God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/man-is-a-thief-an-impudent-thief-he-steals-honey-from-bees-eggs-from/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Give, but, if possible, spare the poor man the shame of begging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/give-but-if-possible-spare-the-poor-man-the-shame-of-begging/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [The hand that puts a coin into the hands of a beggar could be the hand of a rich man or poor man.. but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-hand-that-puts-a-coin-into-the-hands-of-a-beggar-could-be-the/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [The poor man commands respect; the beggar must always excite anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-poor-man-commands-respect-the-beggar-must-always-excite-anger/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [How can you laugh when your mother's hungry? How can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/how-can-you-laugh-when-your-mother-s-hungry-how-can-you-smile-when/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Please... tell me who you are and what you want. And if you think those are simple questions, keep in mind that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/please-tell-me-who-you-are-and-what-you-want-and-if-you-think-those/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Heartbeat, why do you skip when my baby's lips meet mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-holly/heartbeat-why-do-you-skip-when-my-baby-s-lips-meet-mine/) [Buddy Holly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-holly/) > [If you feel you have a strong constituency among the young, you can really die happy, because the great unanswered question, the only valid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/if-you-feel-you-have-a-strong-constituency-among-the-young-you-can/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“It is up to you. How far you want to go and how far you want to grow. Do not let that your worries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yilda-rivera/it-is-up-to-you-how-far-you-want-to-go-and-how-far-you-want-to-grow/) [Yilda Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yilda-rivera/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) ## More by Jethro Tull > [“I nominate this song as the "Song for the group" (from the Benefit CD): Chorus from the song "Inside" by Jethro Tull for it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/i-nominate-this-song-as-the-song-for-the-group-from-the-benefit-cd/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [I'll make love to you in all good places, under black mountains and open spaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/i-ll-make-love-to-you-in-all-good-places-under-black-mountains-and/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [All sorts of dung and compost contain some matter which, when mixed with the soil, ferments therein; and by such ferment dissolves, crumbles, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/all-sorts-of-dung-and-compost-contain-some-matter-which-when-mixed/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [The excrement bubbles, the century slime decays, and the brainwashing government lackeys would have us say it's under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/the-excrement-bubbles-the-century-slime-decays-and-the-brainwashing/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Take your place in a wiser world of bigger motor cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/take-your-place-in-a-wiser-world-of-bigger-motor-cars/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Who the hell can he be? He's never had V.D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/who-the-hell-can-he-be-he-s-never-had-v-d/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [I've tried my best to love you all, all you hypocrites and whores with your eyes on each other and locks on your doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/i-ve-tried-my-best-to-love-you-all-all-you-hypocrites-and-whores-with/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Snot is running down his nose, greasy fingers, smearing shabby clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/snot-is-running-down-his-nose-greasy-fingers-smearing-shabby-clothes/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [The sand-castle virtues are all swept away in the tidal destruction, the moral melee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/the-sand-castle-virtues-are-all-swept-away-in-the-tidal-destruction/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Songs from the wood make you feel much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/songs-from-the-wood-make-you-feel-much-better/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [How can you laugh when your mother's hungry? How can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/how-can-you-laugh-when-your-mother-s-hungry-how-can-you-smile-when/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [“Well, maybe he was Jesus but his hair could have used a comb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/well-maybe-he-was-jesus-but-his-hair-could-have-used-a-comb/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Jump up, look around, find yourself some fun. No sense in sitting there hating everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/jump-up-look-around-find-yourself-some-fun-no-sense-in-sitting-there/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [“I may make you feel but I can't make you think…your sperm's in the gutter, your love's in the sink…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/i-may-make-you-feel-but-i-can-t-make-you-think-your-sperm-s-in-the/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [The legends lie cradled in the seagulls call, and the promise they made are ground beneath the sadist's fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/the-legends-lie-cradled-in-the-seagulls-call-and-the-promise-they/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) [Explore all 55 Jethro Tull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) ## More Beggar quotes > [If some beggar steals a bridle he'll be hung by a man who's stolen a horse. There's no surer justice in the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peire-cardenal/if-some-beggar-steals-a-bridle-he-ll-be-hung-by-a-man-who-s-stolen-a/) [Peire Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peire-cardenal/) > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Why remain polite but powerless, in love but a beggar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/why-remain-polite-but-powerless-in-love-but-a-beggar/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Don't be doubtful to your goals or else you will end up your life as a beggar, keep faith on yourself and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athar-azeem/don-t-be-doubtful-to-your-goals-or-else-you-will-end-up-your-life-as/) [Athar Azeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athar-azeem/) > [Poets and beggars, musicians and prophets, warriors and scoundrels, all creatures of that unbridled reality, we have had to ask but little of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/poets-and-beggars-musicians-and-prophets-warriors-and-scoundrels-all/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Beggars fear no rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beggars-fear-no-rebellion/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Hurrah for revolution and more cannon-shot! A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar on foot. Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again! The beggars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/hurrah-for-revolution-and-more-cannon-shot-a-beggar-upon-horseback/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You obviously don't know what an Old Man of the Sea great wealth is. It is not a fat purse and time to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/you-obviously-don-t-know-what-an-old-man-of-the-sea-great-wealth-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Make of the Silence your to-do tasks, of the compassion your wealth and of the meditation your beggar's bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/make-of-the-silence-your-to-do-tasks-of-the-compassion-your-wealth/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [I'll not meddle with it. It makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal but it accuseth him; a man cannot swear but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-ll-not-meddle-with-it-it-makes-a-man-a-coward-a-man-cannot-steal/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A beggar through the world am I, From place to place I wander by. Fill up my pilgrim's scrip for me, For Christ's sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-beggar-through-the-world-am-i-from-place-to-place-i-wander-by-fill/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The bashful beggar has an empty purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cranch-bond/the-bashful-beggar-has-an-empty-purse/) [William Cranch Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cranch-bond/) > [“A coin is examined, and only after careful deliberation, given to a beggar, whereas a child is flung out into the cosmic brutality without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/a-coin-is-examined-and-only-after-careful-deliberation-given-to-a/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) [Browse all 455 Beggar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief, if he held a rich man in his hand?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jethro Tull" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-thief-if-he-held-a-rich-man-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beggar" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-thief-if-he-held-a-rich-man-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/jethro-tull-12401_beggar_who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-t_1393649.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief, if he held a rich man in his hand?” — Jethro Tull", "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": "Jethro Tull", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who would be a poor man,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-thief-if-he-held-a-rich-man-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/who-would-be-a-poor-man-a-beggar-man-a-thief-if-he-held-a-rich-man-in/#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 } } ] } ```