--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: if wishes could be fishes, even beggars…" description: "\"“if wishes could be fishes, even beggars would eat.”\" — Lili St. Crow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg" --- # if wishes could be fishes, even beggars would eat. ![“if wishes could be fishes, even beggars would eat.” quote by Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg) > ““if wishes could be fishes, even beggars would eat.”” [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If wishes could become tangible, even the poorest would have enough to eat, highlighting the futility of wish‑fulfillment without action. **In simple terms:** Wishes alone won’t feed anyone; effort is needed. Key Takeaway Turn wishes into action to meet needs. Themes poverty wishful thinking action Mood practical realistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - community aid - goal setting Key Concepts resourcefulness realism self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - What actions can replace idle wishes? - How do you balance hope and effort? A Different Perspective May sound cynical to some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beggars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggars/) [Beggars Eat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggars-eat-2052849/) [Dru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dru-51349/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Fishes Beggars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes-beggars-2052848/) [Wishes Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishes-fishes-491656/) ## Related quotes > [“If wishes were fishes, even beggars would eat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-were-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“And now things were as bad as they could get. I winced inwardly. You're never supposed to even think that. Because it's just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/and-now-things-were-as-bad-as-they-could-get-i-winced-inwardly-you-re/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Answer this question very carefully, kid. Are you a virgin?" The silence was so long I thought I was going to have to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/answer-this-question-very-carefully-kid-are-you-a-virgin-the-silence/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Anything for you, Dru. And I mean it. Now, be quiet and let me concentrate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/anything-for-you-dru-and-i-mean-it-now-be-quiet-and-let-me-concentrate/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Okay," I began. "You’re too old for me. You’re scary. It’s creepy that you were so all over my mom and now you’re all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/okay-i-began-you-re-too-old-for-me-you-re-scary-it-s-creepy-that-you/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [If wishes were fishes we'd all be throwing nets. If wishes were horses we'd all ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-wishes-were-fishes-we-d-all-be-throwing-nets-if-wishes-were-horses/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If wishes were fishes, the world would be an ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/if-wishes-were-fishes-the-world-would-be-an-ocean/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [If wishes were fishes, we'd all cast nets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/if-wishes-were-fishes-we-d-all-cast-nets/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“If wishes were fishes, this whole place would really stink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/if-wishes-were-fishes-this-whole-place-would-really-stink/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“Ah, well, my mother told me that if wishes were fishes, we would all be swimming in riches. Ok, tell me about these two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-alanson/ah-well-my-mother-told-me-that-if-wishes-were-fishes-we-would-all-be/) [Craig Alanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-alanson/) > [If only wishes were fishes... I would be full of riches & be rid of fake bitches :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladiosagodiva/if-only-wishes-were-fishes-i-would-be-full-of-riches-be-rid-of-fake/) [LaDiosaGodiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladiosagodiva/) > [“If wishes were fishes, we'd all throw nets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/if-wishes-were-fishes-we-d-all-throw-nets/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [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/) > [Beggars fear no rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/beggars-fear-no-rebellion/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [“As far as I can see, Italy, for fifteen hundred years, has turned all her energies, all her finances, and all her industry to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/as-far-as-i-can-see-italy-for-fifteen-hundred-years-has-turned-all/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Lili St. Crow > [“A Zombie. Okay. Whew. All right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/a-zombie-okay-whew-all-right/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Whoa. Back up. I smell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/whoa-back-up-i-smell/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Give her the goddamn Advil, Dibs. Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/give-her-the-goddamn-advil-dibs-jesus/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“He peered down at me. “Jesus Christ. You’re leaking.” If by “leaking” he meant “sobbing like a girl,” I guess so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/he-peered-down-at-me-jesus-christ-you-re-leaking-if-by-leaking-he/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Discipline allows magic. To be a writer is to be the very best of assassins. You do not sit down and write every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/discipline-allows-magic-to-be-a-writer-is-to-be-the-very-best-of/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Graves is going to shit a brick over this one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/graves-is-going-to-shit-a-brick-over-this-one/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“And I knew that tone, the pleading, the fear that was sitting like a spiked ball in his chest. He'd been left behind too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/and-i-knew-that-tone-the-pleading-the-fear-that-was-sitting-like-a/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“It's easy to get rid of people, Christophe. All you have to do is rely on them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/it-s-easy-to-get-rid-of-people-christophe-all-you-have-to-do-is-rely/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“If wishes were fishes, even beggars would eat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-were-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“People hate it when you call them on jackassery. That's a big fact of human nature: Not a lot of people want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/people-hate-it-when-you-call-them-on-jackassery-that-s-a-big-fact-of/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Okay," I began. "You’re too old for me. You’re scary. It’s creepy that you were so all over my mom and now you’re all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/okay-i-began-you-re-too-old-for-me-you-re-scary-it-s-creepy-that-you/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“The ice," Leon said to thin air over my head, "has now officially broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/the-ice-leon-said-to-thin-air-over-my-head-has-now-officially-broken/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“It is our honor," Amelia said, and it was the weirdest thing-it sounded like she really meant it. People don't often say exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/it-is-our-honor-amelia-said-and-it-was-the-weirdest-thing-it-sounded/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Why can't I have a normal girlfriend?" he asked the air over his head. "I finally meet someone I like and she turns out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/why-can-t-i-have-a-normal-girlfriend-he-asked-the-air-over-his-head-i/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Gee, thanks." I couldn't sound more sarcastic, but I was willing to give it a try. My breathing evened out. "What are you here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/gee-thanks-i-couldn-t-sound-more-sarcastic-but-i-was-willing-to-give/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) [Explore all 116 Lili St. Crow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) ## More Beggars quotes > [“As far as I can see, Italy, for fifteen hundred years, has turned all her energies, all her finances, and all her industry to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/as-far-as-i-can-see-italy-for-fifteen-hundred-years-has-turned-all/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [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/) > [“People will rather pass by the weak, the lame, the beggars, the orphans, the tormented, the widows and take their large offerings to church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-will-rather-pass-by-the-weak-the-lame-the-beggars-the-orphans/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/those-who-have-not-found-their-true-wealth-which-is-the-radiant-joy/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Philosophy is best practised by people in general and not by philosophers alone. Philosophy is too often a luxury now, but in ancient Greece,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-onfray/philosophy-is-best-practised-by-people-in-general-and-not-by/) [Michel Onfray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-onfray/) > [Writers, you know, are the beggars of Western society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/writers-you-know-are-the-beggars-of-western-society/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [“If wishes were fishes, even beggars would eat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-were-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-what-if-i-should-discover-that-the-least-amongst-them-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“We need to work with the young. Where will we find them, I ask? They drift, travel, abandon everything, and dress as beggars or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-need-to-work-with-the-young-where-will-we-find-them-i-ask-they/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Capability can handle challenges, it doesn't accept charity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/capability-can-handle-challenges-it-doesn-t-accept-charity/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/he-had-a-head-which-statuaries-loved-to-copy-and-a-foot-the-deformity/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [English law in 1572 decreed that beggars above 14 years of age are to be severely flogged and branded on the left ear unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/english-law-in-1572-decreed-that-beggars-above-14-years-of-age-are-to/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [One ought not to encourage beggars, and yes, you are right, it is far better to donate to charities that address the causes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/one-ought-not-to-encourage-beggars-and-yes-you-are-right-it-is-far/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [Grace finds us beggars but leaves us debtors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-toplady/grace-finds-us-beggars-but-leaves-us-debtors/) [Augustus Toplady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-toplady/) [Browse all 138 Beggars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“if wishes could be fishes, even beggars would eat.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lili St. Crow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beggars" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/lili-st-crow-3152_beggars_if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-w_2294712.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“if wishes could be fishes, even beggars would eat.” — Lili St. Crow", "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": "Lili St. Crow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“if wishes could be fishes, even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-could-be-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/#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 } } ] } ```