Quote by P.G. Wodehouse
““I wonder the food didn't turn to ashes in our mouths! Eggs! Muffins! Sardines! All wrung from the bleeding lips of the starving poor!" "Oh, I say! What a beastly idea!"... Jeeves came in to clear away, and found me sitting among the ruins. It was all very well for Comrade Butt to knock the food, but he had pretty well finished the ham; and if you had shoved the remainder of the jam into the bleeding lips of the starving poor it would hardly have made them sticky.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Code of the Woosters, 1938
The narrator satirically describes the absurdity of hoarding scarce food while the poor starve, highlighting hypocrisy.
In simple terms: He mocks selfishness and waste during famine.
Key Takeaway
Avoid waste; help those in need.
Themes
hypocrisy
poverty
social satire
Mood
satirical
critical
Type
literary
humorous
When to use this quote
- war rationing
- charitable giving
- political commentary
Key Concepts
ethical responsibility
class critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor affect our view of serious issues?
- What responsibilities do the privileged have?
A Different Perspective
Satire may downplay real suffering, risking trivialization.
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