---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That the poor are invisible is one of the…"
description: "\"That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected and forgotten as in the old rhetoric of refor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg"
---

#  That the poor are invisible is one of the most important…

![“That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected and forgotten as in the old rhetoric of reform; what is much worse, they are not seen.” quote by Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg)

> “That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected and forgotten as in the old rhetoric of reform; what is much worse, they are not seen.”

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society often ignores the poor, not just neglecting them but rendering them invisible.

**In simple terms:** Poverty is unseen, not just ignored.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address the invisibility of the poor.

Themes

poverty visibility social justice

Mood

empathetic urgent

Type

call to action philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- social services
- community advocacy
- media representation

Key Concepts

systemic neglect human dignity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we make the invisible visible?
- What actions change perception into support?

A Different Perspective

Visibility alone doesn't solve structural inequality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible/) [Invisible Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible-important-303188/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Neglected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglected/) [Neglected Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglected-forgotten-4322400/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-invisible-5373559/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/) [Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply/) [The most important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-most-important/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse/)

## Related quotes

> [“He was horribly neglected, forgotten, pushed aside. It was almost as if Hollywood was so ashamed of what was done to him that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garfield/he-was-horribly-neglected-forgotten-pushed-aside-it-was-almost-as-if/)

[Julie Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garfield/)

> [When you're poor, you are invisible. Every poor person will tell you nobody sees you. So being famous was me just wanting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-poor-you-are-invisible-every-poor-person-will-tell-you/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I'm sick of feeling worthless, nothing, invisible &amp; not important to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-sick-of-feeling-worthless-nothing-invisible-not-important-to-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I turned, painting in hand, to show it to her, and then realized she wasn't there. Or - she was there and she wasn't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-turned-painting-in-hand-to-show-it-to-her-and-then-realized-she/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

> [“then realized she wasn’t there. Or—she was there and she wasn’t. Part of her was there, but it was invisible. The invisible part was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/then-realized-she-wasn-t-there-or-she-was-there-and-she-wasn-t-part/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

> [Your landscape in a western is one of the most important characters the film has. The best westerns are about man against his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/your-landscape-in-a-western-is-one-of-the-most-important-characters/)

[Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/)

> [The most important thing to do as you age is to stay physically active. Lots of people just throw in the towel if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/the-most-important-thing-to-do-as-you-age-is-to-stay-physically/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [The most important thing about Jazz at Lincoln Center is the fact that it's the first time that perhaps the most important art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/the-most-important-thing-about-jazz-at-lincoln-center-is-the-fact/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [Now that we do not have priests and philosophers any more, artists are the most important people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/now-that-we-do-not-have-priests-and-philosophers-any-more-artists-are/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [I think the most important lesson isn't necessarily to try and write a different book every time, or to try and brand yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bohjalian/i-think-the-most-important-lesson-isn-t-necessarily-to-try-and-write/)

[Chris Bohjalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bohjalian/)

> [A helmet is the most important part of any jockey's kit because of the number of falls you take, so I wouldn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-mccoy/a-helmet-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-jockey-s-kit-because-of/)

[Tony McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-mccoy/)

> [The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/the-most-important-thing-for-a-director-is-being-able-to-communicate/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [For many, many people, getting married is one of the most important things they will ever do in the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/for-many-many-people-getting-married-is-one-of-the-most-important/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. If someone were addressing your point, what tone, what overall approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-most-important-guideline-when-it-comes-to-argument-is-the-golden/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing, and close behind that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-think-we-were-raised-in-a-nice-texas-jewish-family-where-education/)

[Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/)

## More by Michael Harrington

> [“Socialism is still beginning, a task to be accomplished, not a destiny to be awaited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/socialism-is-still-beginning-a-task-to-be-accomplished-not-a-destiny/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [Clothes make the poor invisible. America has the best-dressed poverty the world has ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/clothes-make-the-poor-invisible-america-has-the-best-dressed-poverty/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [It takes a certain level of aspiration before one can take advantage of opportunities that are clearly offered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/it-takes-a-certain-level-of-aspiration-before-one-can-take-advantage/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [People who are much too sensitive to demand of cripples that they run races ask of the poor that they get up and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/people-who-are-much-too-sensitive-to-demand-of-cripples-that-they-run/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [“The more you gaze into her eyes, the more you will see what you want, what is actually inside your heart. And then she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/the-more-you-gaze-into-her-eyes-the-more-you-will-see-what-you-want/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [“... most people since the dawn of human time have been simply programmed by their birth to a short and brutish life that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/most-people-since-the-dawn-of-human-time-have-been-simply-programmed/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [“Also, remember, temptations of the heart are the most dangerous but, if we want to truly live, it’s a danger we must embrace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/also-remember-temptations-of-the-heart-are-the-most-dangerous-but-if/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [“I will reveal one secret,” said the maestro. “The depth will be even more enhanced when I build up many more layers of transparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/i-will-reveal-one-secret-said-the-maestro-the-depth-will-be-even-more/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [If there is technological advance without social advance, there is, almost automatically, an increase in human misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/if-there-is-technological-advance-without-social-advance-there-is/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [Life is lived in common, but not in community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/life-is-lived-in-common-but-not-in-community/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

> [“Managers receiving hundreds of thousands a year—and setting their compensation for themselves—are not being paid wages, they are appropriating surplus value in the guise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/managers-receiving-hundreds-of-thousands-a-year-and-setting-their/)

[Michael Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

[Explore all 12 Michael Harrington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected and forgotten as in the old rhetoric of reform; what is much worse, they are not seen.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Harrington"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-the-most-important-things-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-the-most-important-things-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/michael-harrington-37212_about_that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-th_1476930.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected…” — Michael Harrington",
                "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": "Michael Harrington",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harrington/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That the poor are invisible is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-the-most-important-things-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harrington/that-the-poor-are-invisible-is-one-of-the-most-important-things-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
