--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My especial object is to help the poor…" description: "\"My especial object is to help the poor; the rich can help themselves. I believe in self-made men.\" — Joseph Pulitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joseph-pulitzer-15695_believe_my-especial-object-is-to-help-the-poor-t_419670.jpg" --- # My especial object is to help the poor; the rich can help… ![“My especial object is to help the poor; the rich can help themselves. I believe in self-made men.” quote by Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joseph-pulitzer-15695_believe_my-especial-object-is-to-help-the-poor-t_419670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joseph-pulitzer-15695_believe_my-especial-object-is-to-help-the-poor-t_419670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joseph-pulitzer-15695_believe_my-especial-object-is-to-help-the-poor-t_419670.jpg) > “My especial object is to help the poor; the rich can help themselves. I believe in self-made men.” [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates that aid should target the poor while encouraging self-reliance among the wealthy, emphasizing personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** Help the poor, let the rich be self‑sufficient. Key Takeaway Focus charitable efforts on those in need. Themes charity self‑reliance social responsibility Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - community outreach - policy making - personal finance planning - social entrepreneurship Key Concepts philanthropy individualism economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance aid with empowerment? - What structures hinder self‑made success? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers that prevent self‑sufficiency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe In Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-self/) [Believe Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-self-234098/) [Help Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-believe-1098546/) [Help Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-poor-402643/) [Help the poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-the-poor/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-rich/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-made/) [Self made man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-made-man/) [Self Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-men-362255/) ## Related quotes > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [I do not think much of the good luck theory of self-made men. It is worth but little attention and has no practical value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-do-not-think-much-of-the-good-luck-theory-of-self-made-men-it-is/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [My theory of self-made men is, then, simply this; that they are men of work. Whether or not such men have acquired material, moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/my-theory-of-self-made-men-is-then-simply-this-that-they-are-men-of/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [We are all self-made men and women, but only the successful take credit for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/we-are-all-self-made-men-and-women-but-only-the-successful-take/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [We're all self-made men, but not very many of us have stayed on the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/we-re-all-self-made-men-but-not-very-many-of-us-have-stayed-on-the-job/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [Self-made men often worship their creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/self-made-men-often-worship-their-creator/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [God's designs may be frequent justification for our actions, but it is we, the self-made men, who take the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/god-s-designs-may-be-frequent-justification-for-our-actions-but-it-is/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) > [Self-Made Men are the men who owe little or nothing to birth, relationship, friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or to early approved means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/self-made-men-are-the-men-who-owe-little-or-nothing-to-birth/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Self-Made Men are those who owe little or nothing to birth, relationship, or friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or to early approved means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/self-made-men-are-those-who-owe-little-or-nothing-to-birth/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Believe in self & accept with confidence what you are. Your belief becomes your thoughts & healthy thoughts make you believe that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/believe-in-self-accept-with-confidence-what-you-are-your-belief/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“I don't believe in self-pity. I think it's for people who have too much time on their hands. Instead of dreaming of a miracle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-don-t-believe-in-self-pity-i-think-it-s-for-people-who-have-too/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [First believe in self that I can do and then take appropriate action along the line of thought. Be too determined not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/first-believe-in-self-that-i-can-do-and-then-take-appropriate-action/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [If you believe in living a respectable life, you believe in self-help which is the best help!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/if-you-believe-in-living-a-respectable-life-you-believe-in-self-help/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [Believe in self that you are really good & that no one else can do. Embrace your individuality and show the world just how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/believe-in-self-that-you-are-really-good-that-no-one-else-can-do/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Believe in self that you have positive energy within you, will enlighten your life with positive vibe & that is greater than any obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/believe-in-self-that-you-have-positive-energy-within-you-will/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) ## More by Joseph Pulitzer > [An able, disinterested, public-spirited press, with trained intelligence to know the right and courage to do it, can preserve that public virtue without which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/an-able-disinterested-public-spirited-press-with-trained-intelligence/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I will always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight demagogues of all parties, never belong to any party,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-will-always-fight-for-progress-and-reform-never-tolerate-injustice/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/a-cynical-mercenary-demagogic-press-will-produce-in-time-a-people-as/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I am deeply interested in the progress and elevation of journalism, having spent my life in that profession, regarding it as a noble profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-am-deeply-interested-in-the-progress-and-elevation-of-journalism/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [Don't be sensitive if I should, in future, seem brusque, harsh, or even unjust in my criticism. I sincerely hope I never shall be;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/don-t-be-sensitive-if-i-should-in-future-seem-brusque-harsh-or-even/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I breakfast when I get up, lunch when I get the chance. If I never get it, I forget it. Sometimes I dine at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-breakfast-when-i-get-up-lunch-when-i-get-the-chance-if-i-never-get/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [It is to such men as Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson and Jackson and Franklin, all most lowly born, that we owe most of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/it-is-to-such-men-as-abraham-lincoln-and-jefferson-and-jackson-and/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I desire to assist in attracting to this profession young men of character and ability, also to help those already engaged in the profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-desire-to-assist-in-attracting-to-this-profession-young-men-of/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I want to talk to a nation, not to a select committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-want-to-talk-to-a-nation-not-to-a-select-committee/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I really think one of the most extraordinary things in the world is the amount of noise a child can make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-really-think-one-of-the-most-extraordinary-things-in-the-world-is/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [Our republic and its press will rise and fall together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/our-republic-and-its-press-will-rise-and-fall-together/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [Performance is better than promise. Exuberant assurances are cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/performance-is-better-than-promise-exuberant-assurances-are-cheap/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [They call me the father of illustrated journalism. What folly! I never thought any such thing. I had a small newspaper, which had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/they-call-me-the-father-of-illustrated-journalism-what-folly-i-never/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [It only serves to show what sort of person a man must be who can't even get testimonials. No, no; if a man brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/it-only-serves-to-show-what-sort-of-person-a-man-must-be-who-can-t/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [The American people want something terse, forcible, picturesque, striking - something that will arrest their attention, enlist their sympathy, arouse their indignation, stimulate their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/the-american-people-want-something-terse-forcible-picturesque/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) [Explore all 42 Joseph Pulitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My especial object is to help the poor; the rich can help themselves. 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