--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man were poor or hungry, [some]…" description: "\"If a man were poor or hungry, [some] would say, let us pray for him. I would suggest a little different regimen for a person in this condition: rather ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/john-taylor-11046_ashamed_if-a-man-were-poor-or-hungry-some-would_2860168.jpg" --- # If a man were poor or hungry, \[some\] would say, let us… ![“If a man were poor or hungry, [some] would say, let us pray for him. I would suggest a little different regimen for a person in this condition: rather take him a bag of flour and a little beef or pork, and a little sugar and butter. A few such comforts will do him more good than your prayers. And…” quote by John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/john-taylor-11046_ashamed_if-a-man-were-poor-or-hungry-some-would_2860168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/john-taylor-11046_ashamed_if-a-man-were-poor-or-hungry-some-would_2860168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/john-taylor-11046_ashamed_if-a-man-were-poor-or-hungry-some-would_2860168.jpg) > “If a man were poor or hungry, \[some\] would say, let us pray for him. I would suggest a little different regimen for a person in this condition: rather take him a bag of flour and a little beef or pork, and a little sugar and butter. A few such comforts will do him more good than your prayers. And I would be ashamed to ask the Lord to do something that I would not do myself. Then go to work and help the poor yourselves first, and do all you can for them, and then call upon God to do the balance.” [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates practical aid over prayer alone for the poor, urging personal action. **In simple terms:** Help the poor with food, not just prayers. Key Takeaway Provide tangible help first. Themes charity faith action Mood compassionate determined Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - disaster relief - food banks - community service Key Concepts practical aid personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What balance of prayer and action is right? - How can you mobilize resources effectively? A Different Perspective May underestimate spiritual needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Help the poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-the-poor/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Little bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bee/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Well now you're contradicting yourself. With balance there cannot be chaos. With randomness there can be no punishment. You're pleading for punishment in hopes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/well-now-you-re-contradicting-yourself-with-balance-there-cannot-be/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“The state of balance is in order, a command by God. With this balance, the demand of time is necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zarina-bibi/the-state-of-balance-is-in-order-a-command-by-god-with-this-balance/) [Zarina Bibi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zarina-bibi/) > [We should all remember... that throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone to reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/we-should-all-remember-that-throwing-food-away-is-like-stealing-from/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/throwing-away-food-is-like-stealing-from-the-table-of-those-who-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In a state of poverty, illiteracy, people just remain exposed to all kinds of manipulation. That's what we have lived. It's easier to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kagame/in-a-state-of-poverty-illiteracy-people-just-remain-exposed-to-all/) [Paul Kagame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kagame/) > [“When you’re poor and hungry and frightened of failure, you often don’t have the luxury of high values, lofty goals, and social conscience. Funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-romig/when-you-re-poor-and-hungry-and-frightened-of-failure-you-often-don-t/) Rodney Romig > [Consumerism has accustomed us to waste. But throwing food away is like stealing it from the poor and hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/consumerism-has-accustomed-us-to-waste-but-throwing-food-away-is-like/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Many writers are recognized for their PHD mentality--Poor, Hungry and Driven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-jackson/many-writers-are-recognized-for-their-phd-mentality-poor-hungry-and/) Trish Jackson > [Let us remember well, however, that whenever food is thrown out it is as if it were stolen from the table of the poor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-remember-well-however-that-whenever-food-is-thrown-out-it-is/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We don't need to have deep pockets or be rich to help the needy, the poor and the hungry we need to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-need-to-have-deep-pockets-or-be-rich-to-help-the-needy-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I felt like I was seeing my life over again when I first arrived in Ghana. I thought, 'This is part of me.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-marley/i-felt-like-i-was-seeing-my-life-over-again-when-i-first-arrived-in/) [Rita Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-marley/) > [I would prefer to be poor and hungry in bed next to the one I love then to be rich and shelterd next too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeyy-trance/i-would-prefer-to-be-poor-and-hungry-in-bed-next-to-the-one-i-love/) Moeyy Trance > [“Those who are materially poor, hungry, and grieving are called "blessed" by Jesus, because wealth, satisfactions, and pleasures do not blind them to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roch-a-kereszty/those-who-are-materially-poor-hungry-and-grieving-are-called-blessed/) Roch A. Kereszty > [The biggest sin against the poor and the hungry is perhaps indifference, making believe we do not see, passing by on the other side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/the-biggest-sin-against-the-poor-and-the-hungry-is-perhaps/) [Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/) > [Poor people have the blues because they're poor and hungry. Rich people can't sleep at night because they're trying to hold on to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hooker/poor-people-have-the-blues-because-they-re-poor-and-hungry-rich/) [John Lee Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hooker/) ## More by John Taylor > [A man, as a man, could arrive at all the dignity that a man was capable of obtaining or receiving; but it needed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/a-man-as-a-man-could-arrive-at-all-the-dignity-that-a-man-was-capable/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [If you do not magnify your calling, God will hold you responsible for those who you might have saved-had you done your duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/if-you-do-not-magnify-your-calling-god-will-hold-you-responsible-for/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [When the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted, those high contracting parties did positively agree that they would not interfere with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/when-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-framed-and-adopted/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [I used to think, if I were the Lord, I would not suffer people to be tried as they are. But I have changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/i-used-to-think-if-i-were-the-lord-i-would-not-suffer-people-to-be/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“Suicide should be made odious among the people of God--it should be emphasized as a deadly sin, and no undue feelings of tenderness towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/suicide-should-be-made-odious-among-the-people-of-god-it-should-be/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [When Jesus sent forth his servants formerly he sent them to preach this Gospel. When the Father and the Son and Moroni and others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/when-jesus-sent-forth-his-servants-formerly-he-sent-them-to-preach/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“I remember when I had the Gospel first preached to me---before I was baptized; I heard a lecture something like this: 'Now, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/i-remember-when-i-had-the-gospel-first-preached-to-me-before-i-was/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [If the means to which the government of the union may resort for executing the power confided to it, are unlimited, it may easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/if-the-means-to-which-the-government-of-the-union-may-resort-for/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [In every principle presented to us, our first inquiry should be, "Is it true?" "Does it emanate from God?" If he is its Author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/in-every-principle-presented-to-us-our-first-inquiry-should-be-is-it/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“Peace is the gift of God. Do you want peace? Go to God. Do you want peace in your families? Go to God. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/peace-is-the-gift-of-god-do-you-want-peace-go-to-god-do-you-want/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [We believe in honesty, morality, and purity; but when they enact tyrannical laws, forbidding us the free exercise of our religion, we cannot submit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/we-believe-in-honesty-morality-and-purity-but-when-they-enact/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [And though I ebb in worth, I'll flow in thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/and-though-i-ebb-in-worth-i-ll-flow-in-thanks/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [ “In a manner to us incomprehensible and inexplicable, \[the Savior\] bore the weight of the sins of the whole world; not only of Adam,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/in-a-manner-to-us-incomprehensible-and-inexplicable-the-savior-bore/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“Show and prove to the world, to angels and to God, that you are on the side of truth and right, of honesty, purity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/show-and-prove-to-the-world-to-angels-and-to-god-that-you-are-on-the/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [In fact he enables us not by making us supernaturally strong, but by opening our eyes. The Holy Spirit is that power which opens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/in-fact-he-enables-us-not-by-making-us-supernaturally-strong-but-by/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) [Explore all 62 John Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) Stacy Green > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man were poor or hungry, [some] would say, let us pray for him. I would suggest a little different regimen for a person in this condition: rather take him a bag of flour and a little beef or pork, and a little sugar and butter. A few such comforts will do him more good than your prayers. And I would be ashamed to ask the Lord to do something that I would not do myself. 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