--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even when I was living below the poverty…" description: "\"Even when I was living below the poverty line as a novelist, I was still living better than 99.5% of the human population of the world. But in my littl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/525/jonathan-ames-7444_amuse_even-when-i-was-living-below-the-poverty_2206214.jpg" --- # Even when I was living below the poverty line as a… ![“Even when I was living below the poverty line as a novelist, I was still living better than 99.5% of the human population of the world. But in my little, soft realm of trying to amuse a few dozen middle-class people with my books and articles, I did struggle to survive in my own way.” quote by Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/525/jonathan-ames-7444_amuse_even-when-i-was-living-below-the-poverty_2206214.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/525/jonathan-ames-7444_amuse_even-when-i-was-living-below-the-poverty_2206214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/525/jonathan-ames-7444_amuse_even-when-i-was-living-below-the-poverty_2206214.jpg) > “Even when I was living below the poverty line as a novelist, I was still living better than 99.5% of the human population of the world. But in my little, soft realm of trying to amuse a few dozen middle-class people with my books and articles, I did struggle to survive in my own way.” [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges his modest success despite extreme poverty, highlighting relative privilege. **In simple terms:** Even poor artists may be better off than most worldwide. Key Takeaway Recognize relative advantage and keep creating. Themes poverty creativity relative success Mood reflective grateful realistic Type personal motivational When to use this quote - writing career - freelance journalism - personal finance - mental health Key Concepts socioeconomic disparity artistic struggle Questions to Reflect On - How does relative wealth affect your motivation? - What responsibilities come with relative privilege? A Different Perspective Privilege is still limited; systemic inequality persists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amuse/) [Articles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/articles/) [Below](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/below/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Did Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-struggle-1931892/) [Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Few](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-population/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Living better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-better/) [Living Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-poverty-491810/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist/) [Novelist Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist-living-4866786/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Realm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realm/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Soft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soft/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-survive-2346459/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [To survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/to-survive/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [You become a serious novelist by living long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/you-become-a-serious-novelist-by-living-long-enough/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I did struggle with what I want to say socially, but it's important to reflect where I'm at mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/i-did-struggle-with-what-i-want-to-say-socially-but-it-s-important-to/) [Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/) > [I have to move on like he did. I have to struggle all by myself without anything from him, anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-to-move-on-like-he-did-i-have-to-struggle-all-by-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Yes, I did have to struggle very hard to get this \[the vote on the Iraq war\] through, but the reason I did it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/yes-i-did-have-to-struggle-very-hard-to-get-this-the-vote-on-the-iraq/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [I did not have to struggle to enter into films but my real struggle started after I became part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zareen-khan/i-did-not-have-to-struggle-to-enter-into-films-but-my-real-struggle/) [Zareen Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zareen-khan/) > [Now, all writing - all the arts - are a form of 'Pay attention to me,' but there's also the flip side. Like, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/now-all-writing-all-the-arts-are-a-form-of-pay-attention-to-me-but/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Every time people struggle, they survive, they do better, and then they forget, and they end up back where they started from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-ringgold/every-time-people-struggle-they-survive-they-do-better-and-then-they/) [Faith Ringgold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-ringgold/) > [Life is like cigarette smoke .. even it struggle to survive don't know where and when it disappear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lx-amor/life-is-like-cigarette-smoke-even-it-struggle-to-survive-don-t-know/) [Lx Amor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lx-amor/) > [“Each day in the wilderness brings with it the struggle to survive and a heightened awareness of how wonderful it is just to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/each-day-in-the-wilderness-brings-with-it-the-struggle-to-survive-and/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [I may never be able to stop myself from feeling all the pains. But I shall always struggle to survive through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-may-never-be-able-to-stop-myself-from-feeling-all-the-pains-but-i/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [In the absence of hope we must still struggle to survive, and so we do-by the skin of our teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/in-the-absence-of-hope-we-must-still-struggle-to-survive-and-so-we-do/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [The details of our struggle to survive and prosper, in what has been a difficult and sometimes bitter relationship with a system of laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/the-details-of-our-struggle-to-survive-and-prosper-in-what-has-been-a/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [I think the ultimate challenge is to have some kind of style and grace, even though you haven't got money, or standing in society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-think-the-ultimate-challenge-is-to-have-some-kind-of-style-and/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I was the seventh of nine children. When you come from that far down you have to struggle to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/i-was-the-seventh-of-nine-children-when-you-come-from-that-far-down/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [And in which we say that life is eternal but continue to struggle to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/and-in-which-we-say-that-life-is-eternal-but-continue-to-struggle-to/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## More by Jonathan Ames > [“I do think everyone would be a lot happier if we laid eggs on our own and could just have friendship and didn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-do-think-everyone-would-be-a-lot-happier-if-we-laid-eggs-on-our-own/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“Try to think about more important things,' he said. 'Think about your soul, your character. Think about the freezer. It's a solid block of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/try-to-think-about-more-important-things-he-said-think-about-your/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [It's hard to leave New York: this is where my friends are, my parents are. It is so vital. The whole world seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/it-s-hard-to-leave-new-york-this-is-where-my-friends-are-my-parents/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Unfortunately, I'm one of those idiots who knows everything about health and is in a constant state of alarm, and yet I continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/unfortunately-i-m-one-of-those-idiots-who-knows-everything-about/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I don't know that I've gotten much feedback directly from the literary world; sometimes I doubt even the notion that there is a literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-don-t-know-that-i-ve-gotten-much-feedback-directly-from-the/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [People don't expect too much from literature. They just want to know they're not alone with being confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/people-don-t-expect-too-much-from-literature-they-just-want-to-know/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I have very few hobbies. In fact, I have no hobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-have-very-few-hobbies-in-fact-i-have-no-hobbies/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [It was one of those days when every time I went to go out the door, something grabbed me in the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/it-was-one-of-those-days-when-every-time-i-went-to-go-out-the-door/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I wish we had a dog in the show so that I could get to be a dog for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-wish-we-had-a-dog-in-the-show-so-that-i-could-get-to-be-a-dog-for-a/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [There are so many talented young writers named Jonathan, with whom by comparison I suffer terribly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/there-are-so-many-talented-young-writers-named-jonathan-with-whom-by/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“I know I experience great consolation when my mouth is between a woman’s legs. I think it must be because I’m drinking in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-know-i-experience-great-consolation-when-my-mouth-is-between-a/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I might have some sort of personality disorder. I might not have proper filters; it might be some kind of version of Asperger's meets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-might-have-some-sort-of-personality-disorder-i-might-not-have/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I didn't play or like a lot of board games as a child. I liked playing with my G.I. Joes and making up adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-didn-t-play-or-like-a-lot-of-board-games-as-a-child-i-liked-playing/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [How terrible to be alcoholic. You just want to quietly soothe and maybe poison yourself, but you end up poisoning those around you as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/how-terrible-to-be-alcoholic-you-just-want-to-quietly-soothe-and/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I always liked those characters in 'True Blood' who could turn into animals. I'd love to be an animal of some kind and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-always-liked-those-characters-in-true-blood-who-could-turn-into/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) [Explore all 91 Jonathan Ames quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) ## More Amuse quotes > [To design is much more than simply to assemble, to order, or even to edit: it is to add value and meaning, to illuminate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/to-design-is-much-more-than-simply-to-assemble-to-order-or-even-to/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [We must be contented to amuse, when we cannot inform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-must-be-contented-to-amuse-when-we-cannot-inform/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Kids can amuse themselves with almost anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-klein/kids-can-amuse-themselves-with-almost-anything/) [Allen Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-klein/) > [Fashion and decor should amuse you and your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-santo-domingo/fashion-and-decor-should-amuse-you-and-your-friends/) [Lauren Santo Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-santo-domingo/) > [“The situation always amuse you unless you don't go through it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikunj-shukla/the-situation-always-amuse-you-unless-you-don-t-go-through-it/) [Nikunj shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikunj-shukla/) > [...do you think God made the world to amuse himself because he was bored? Because if so he would have to be mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/do-you-think-god-made-the-world-to-amuse-himself-because-he-was-bored/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [With all due respect for the wondrous ways people have invented to amuse themselves and one another on paved surfaces, I find that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/with-all-due-respect-for-the-wondrous-ways-people-have-invented-to/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I do films that amuse me and I can enjoy watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nani/i-do-films-that-amuse-me-and-i-can-enjoy-watching/) [Nani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nani/) > [ They \[the English\] amuse themselves sadly as in the custom of their country. \[Fr., Ils s'amusaient tristement selon la contume de leur pays.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-froissart/they-the-english-amuse-themselves-sadly-as-in-the-custom-of-their/) [Jean Froissart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-froissart/) > [I certainly know all about the Jersey jokes that amuse the rest of the country. You've probably heard them. Our state bird is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/i-certainly-know-all-about-the-jersey-jokes-that-amuse-the-rest-of/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [Now, all writing - all the arts - are a form of 'Pay attention to me,' but there's also the flip side. Like, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/now-all-writing-all-the-arts-are-a-form-of-pay-attention-to-me-but/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [ “\[O\]ur relationship with nature has become warped. You see, nature has acquired a purpose where we are concerned. Its task is to amuse us.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-roth/o-ur-relationship-with-nature-has-become-warped-you-see-nature-has/) [Joseph Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-roth/) > ['The Truth About Lorin Jones' will undoubtedly shock and offend as many readers as it will amuse, since it dares to make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-truth-about-lorin-jones-will-undoubtedly-shock-and-offend-as-many/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“I don't live to amuse you, you know." "One, are you sure? Because you do. And two, we don't make fun of you. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-don-t-live-to-amuse-you-you-know-one-are-you-sure-because-you-do/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“But then such a book as this is not meant to amuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/but-then-such-a-book-as-this-is-not-meant-to-amuse/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) [Browse all 60 Amuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even when I was living below the poverty line as a novelist, I was still living better than 99.5% of the human population of the world. 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