--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The rich...should beg the poor to forgive…" description: "\"The rich...should beg the poor to forgive us for the bread we bring them. Healthy people sometimes feel they need to beg forgiveness too, although ther..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jonathan-kozol-2747_asking-for-forgivene_the-rich-should-beg-the-poor-to-forgive_2235219.jpg" --- # The rich...should beg the poor to forgive us for the bread… ![“The rich...should beg the poor to forgive us for the bread we bring them. Healthy people sometimes feel they need to beg forgiveness too, although there is no reason why. Maybe we simply ask forgiveness for not being born where these poor women have been born, knowing that if we lived here too…” quote by Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jonathan-kozol-2747_asking-for-forgivene_the-rich-should-beg-the-poor-to-forgive_2235219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jonathan-kozol-2747_asking-for-forgivene_the-rich-should-beg-the-poor-to-forgive_2235219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf5/jonathan-kozol-2747_asking-for-forgivene_the-rich-should-beg-the-poor-to-forgive_2235219.jpg) > “The rich...should beg the poor to forgive us for the bread we bring them. Healthy people sometimes feel they need to beg forgiveness too, although there is no reason why. Maybe we simply ask forgiveness for not being born where these poor women have been born, knowing that if we lived here too, our fate might well have been the same.” [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The wealthy should seek forgiveness for the inequities they benefit from, recognizing that poverty is often a matter of circumstance, not moral failing. **In simple terms:** Ask forgiveness for unearned advantage. Key Takeaway Recognize and address systemic inequality. Themes justice empathy inequality humility Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Policy debates - community outreach - personal reflection Key Concepts Social ethics privilege structural poverty Questions to Reflect On - What actions can accompany seeking forgiveness? - How can privilege be used to help the poor? A Different Perspective Forgiveness alone does not solve systemic problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-forgiveness/) [Asking for forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-for-forgiveness/) [Beg Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beg-forgiveness-434724/) [Beg Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beg-poor-5044143/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Forgive Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-bread-2254041/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiveness Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-reason-4690402/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Forgiveness is the reason for the crucifixion, and the crucifixion is the reason for the Incarnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/forgiveness-is-the-reason-for-the-crucifixion-and-the-crucifixion-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-find-out-that-charity-is-a-heavy-burden-to-carry-heavier/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's better to ask forgiveness than permission. - Brom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/it-s-better-to-ask-forgiveness-than-permission-brom/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [The soul force we need in America today, more than any other, is the spirit of atonement. We need to humble ourselves before God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-soul-force-we-need-in-america-today-more-than-any-other-is-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [And the only thing to do with a sin is to confess, do penance and then, after some kind of decent interval, ask for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/and-the-only-thing-to-do-with-a-sin-is-to-confess-do-penance-and-then/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [I could not ask for forgiveness for something I had not done. As scapegoat, I could only bear the fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/i-could-not-ask-for-forgiveness-for-something-i-had-not-done-as/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [If we all hold on to the mistake, we can't see our own glory in the mirror because we have the mistake between our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-all-hold-on-to-the-mistake-we-can-t-see-our-own-glory-in-the/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Every time you ask for forgiveness, you recognize that the biggest problems you face in life exist inside of you, not outside of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/every-time-you-ask-for-forgiveness-you-recognize-that-the-biggest/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/before-god-and-his-people-i-express-my-sorrow-for-the-sins-and-grave/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If you cannot find time to pray, ask for forgiveness. Ask to be cleansed of the sin of having no time to pray ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/if-you-cannot-find-time-to-pray-ask-for-forgiveness-ask-to-be/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Jesus is my role model and He is whom I try to follow. Everything I do, I know I'm representing Him. Does it mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-diaz/jesus-is-my-role-model-and-he-is-whom-i-try-to-follow-everything-i-do/) [Matt Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-diaz/) > [If only I wasn't an atheist, I could get away with anything. You'd just ask for forgiveness and then you'd be forgiven. It sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/if-only-i-wasn-t-an-atheist-i-could-get-away-with-anything-you-d-just/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [ “People in the world ask for forgiveness, but \[true\] ‘pratikraman’ does not happen by doing that. That is like when people casually say ‘sorry’… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/people-in-the-world-ask-for-forgiveness-but-true-pratikraman-does-not/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [There is no sin that God cannot pardon. All we need to do is ask for forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-is-no-sin-that-god-cannot-pardon-all-we-need-to-do-is-ask-for/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Jonathan Kozol > [Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/political-struggle-is-the-most-important-thing-any-of-us-can-do-as-a/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Separate and unequal didn't work 100 years ago. It will not work today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/separate-and-unequal-didn-t-work-100-years-ago-it-will-not-work-today/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [“Unless we have the wealth to pay for private education, we are compelled by law to go to public school—and to the public school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/unless-we-have-the-wealth-to-pay-for-private-education-we-are/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [At present, black children are more segregated in their public schools than at any time since 1968. In the inner-city schools I visit, minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/at-present-black-children-are-more-segregated-in-their-public-schools/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [“I want to correct something I told you once,' she says. 'You asked me once if I thought white people wish that Puerto Rican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/i-want-to-correct-something-i-told-you-once-she-says-you-asked-me/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Let's concede that we have decided to let our children grow up in two separate nations, and lead two separate kinds of lives. If,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/let-s-concede-that-we-have-decided-to-let-our-children-grow-up-in-two/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [When I was young, I was religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/when-i-was-young-i-was-religious/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Our political establishment refuses to use the word 'segregated.' They call the schools diverse, which means half black, half Hispanic, and maybe two white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/our-political-establishment-refuses-to-use-the-word-segregated-they/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > ['Savage Inequalities' was about school finance, and 'Amazing Grace' primarily dealt with medical and social injustices in New York. But with 'Ordinary Resurrections,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/savage-inequalities-was-about-school-finance-and-amazing-grace/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Discrimination is alive and soaring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/discrimination-is-alive-and-soaring/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [If you could lead through testing, the U.S. would lead the world in all education categories. When are people going to understand you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/if-you-could-lead-through-testing-the-u-s-would-lead-the-world-in-all/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [No Child Left Behind widens the gap between the races more than any piece of educational legislation I've seen in 40 years. It denies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/no-child-left-behind-widens-the-gap-between-the-races-more-than-any/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [An awful lot of people come to college with this strange idea that there's no longer segregation in America's schools, that our schools are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/an-awful-lot-of-people-come-to-college-with-this-strange-idea-that/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [The answers I remember longest are the ones that answer questions that I didn't think of asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-answers-i-remember-longest-are-the-ones-that-answer-questions/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) [Explore all 151 Jonathan Kozol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) ## More Asking for forgiveness quotes > [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [There are two kinds of sorry. There is the sorry imbued with regret. And a pure sorry. The kind that is merely asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-are-two-kinds-of-sorry-there-is-the-sorry-imbued-with-regret/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [If you don't have the ability to compete with the pious in righteous deeds, compete with the sinners in asking for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-have-the-ability-to-compete-with-the-pious-in-righteous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no sin that God cannot pardon. All we need to do is ask for forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-is-no-sin-that-god-cannot-pardon-all-we-need-to-do-is-ask-for/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Reading the bible and realizing how my actions have been so bad lately, asking for forgiveness and learning valuable lessons!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reading-the-bible-and-realizing-how-my-actions-have-been-so-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If only you could forgive, I know its hard but here I am asking for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/if-only-you-could-forgive-i-know-its-hard-but-here-i-am-asking-for/) [Cuts And Scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuts-and-scars/) > [Karma means that all actions have consequences. Grace means that in a moment of atonement -taking responsibility, making amends, asking for forgiveness - all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/karma-means-that-all-actions-have-consequences-grace-means-that-in-a/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [ “People in the world ask for forgiveness, but \[true\] ‘pratikraman’ does not happen by doing that. That is like when people casually say ‘sorry’… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/people-in-the-world-ask-for-forgiveness-but-true-pratikraman-does-not/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [If only I wasn't an atheist, I could get away with anything. You'd just ask for forgiveness and then you'd be forgiven. It sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/if-only-i-wasn-t-an-atheist-i-could-get-away-with-anything-you-d-just/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [Jesus is my role model and He is whom I try to follow. Everything I do, I know I'm representing Him. Does it mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-diaz/jesus-is-my-role-model-and-he-is-whom-i-try-to-follow-everything-i-do/) [Matt Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-diaz/) > [But an apology too — you think you’re giving something, but you’re not. You’re really asking for something. You’re asking for forgiveness, you’re asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/but-an-apology-too-you-think-you-re-giving-something-but-you-re-not/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I don't wanna die, I'm not gonna lie to you. I admit that. And I'm not asking for clemency, I'm not asking for forgiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bundy/i-don-t-wanna-die-i-m-not-gonna-lie-to-you-i-admit-that-and-i-m-not/) [Ted Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bundy/) > [The incentive to peacemaking is love, but it degenerates into appeasement whenever justice is ignored. To forgive and to ask for forgiveness are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-incentive-to-peacemaking-is-love-but-it-degenerates-into/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [If you cannot find time to pray, ask for forgiveness. Ask to be cleansed of the sin of having no time to pray ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/if-you-cannot-find-time-to-pray-ask-for-forgiveness-ask-to-be/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) [Browse all 111 Asking for forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-for-forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The rich...should beg the poor to forgive us for the bread we bring them. Healthy people sometimes feel they need to beg forgiveness too, although there is no reason why. 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