--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, as my sister says, ‘there must…" description: "\"“But, as my sister says, ‘there must always be poor people so that now that I’m rich I can shit on them.”\" — Marcel Proust" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/marcel-proust-114_money_but-as-my-sister-says-there-must-always_946230.jpg" --- # But, as my sister says, ‘there must always be poor people… ![“But, as my sister says, ‘there must always be poor people so that now that I’m rich I can shit on them.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/marcel-proust-114_money_but-as-my-sister-says-there-must-always_946230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/marcel-proust-114_money_but-as-my-sister-says-there-must-always_946230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/marcel-proust-114_money_but-as-my-sister-says-there-must-always_946230.jpg) > ““But, as my sister says, ‘there must always be poor people so that now that I’m rich I can shit on them.”” [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker mocks the idea that poverty exists to justify the rich’s contempt, exposing selfish rationalizations of inequality. **In simple terms:** Rich people claim poverty exists so they can look down on it. Key Takeaway Question the moral justification of wealth over the poor. Themes inequality class morality humility Mood cynical critical reflective Type aphilosophical social commentary When to use this quote - wealthy attitudes - social policy debates - personal reflections on privilege - charitable actions Key Concepts social critique ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - How does wealth affect your view of the poor? - What responsibilities come with privilege? A Different Perspective The statement may oversimplify complex socioeconomic factors and ignore systemic causes of poverty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-rich/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Says Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-poor-1317056/) [Sister Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister-says-255860/) ## Related quotes > [When Jeff Sachs says every poor person should receive a free bed net, I agree - but in reality, many end up not receiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/when-jeff-sachs-says-every-poor-person-should-receive-a-free-bed-net/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [Jesus never says to the poor: ‘come find the church’, but he says to those of us in the church: ‘go into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/jesus-never-says-to-the-poor-come-find-the-church-but-he-says-to/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [Agassiz, when I saw him last, had read but a part of Origin of Species. 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