--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Look at that crowd', he said disgustedly…" description: "\"“Look at that crowd', he said disgustedly. 'They think it's a circus.' 'And not a single coin are they donating', said Dina. 'That's not surprising. Pi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/rohinton-mistry-4393_beggars_look-at-that-crowd-he-said-disgustedly-t_1854963.png" --- # Look at that crowd', he said disgustedly. 'They think it's… ![“Look at that crowd', he said disgustedly. 'They think it's a circus.' 'And not a single coin are they donating', said Dina. 'That's not surprising. Pity can only be shown in small doses. When so many beggars are in one place, the public goes like this' - he put his fists to his eyes, like…” quote by Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/rohinton-mistry-4393_beggars_look-at-that-crowd-he-said-disgustedly-t_1854963.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/rohinton-mistry-4393_beggars_look-at-that-crowd-he-said-disgustedly-t_1854963.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/rohinton-mistry-4393_beggars_look-at-that-crowd-he-said-disgustedly-t_1854963.png) > ““Look at that crowd', he said disgustedly. 'They think it's a circus.' 'And not a single coin are they donating', said Dina. 'That's not surprising. Pity can only be shown in small doses. When so many beggars are in one place, the public goes like this' - he put his fists to his eyes, like binoculars.”” [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Crowds can be indifferent to suffering; generosity is scarce, and pity is often limited to small, controlled doses. **In simple terms:** People often ignore the needy; pity is limited. Key Takeaway Cultivate genuine empathy beyond superficial concern. Themes indifference generosity pity Mood somber critical Type observational social commentary When to use this quote - charitable fundraising - public demonstrations - community outreach - social media campaigns Key Concepts social psychology human behavior Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel pity only in small doses? - How can we transform passive observation into active help? A Different Perspective Even small acts of kindness can be eclipsed by collective apathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beggars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggars/) [Crowd Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowd-said-615251/) [Dina Surprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dina-surprising-2459316/) [Doses Beggars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doses-beggars-2459318/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Shown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-shown-2459317/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) ## Related quotes > [“How about the wrong crowd," I said. "You getting in with them?" "Not much luck," Paul said. "I'm trying like hell, but the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/how-about-the-wrong-crowd-i-said-you-getting-in-with-them-not-much/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [I could hear from the crowd some monkey noises, and this went on for about 25 minutes. Every time I touched the ball, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/i-could-hear-from-the-crowd-some-monkey-noises-and-this-went-on-for/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [“Someone in the crowd, for there is always one, said, ‘That’s right, a mate of mine had it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rankin/someone-in-the-crowd-for-there-is-always-one-said-that-s-right-a-mate/) [Robert Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rankin/) > [“We drew a decent crowd,” I said. “It was good weather for a whipping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/we-drew-a-decent-crowd-i-said-it-was-good-weather-for-a-whipping/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Getting hit in the head with a bottle. In fact they missed didnt they? This year it was so bad I actually complained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/getting-hit-in-the-head-with-a-bottle-in-fact-they-missed-didnt-they/) [Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/) > [First thing I did when I found out I made it into the top 13 is I tried not to faint and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-reinhart/first-thing-i-did-when-i-found-out-i-made-it-into-the-top-13-is-i/) [Haley Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-reinhart/) > [“People forget how vulnerable they are despite their shirts and shoes and briefcases, how this hungry and cruel world could strip them, put them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/people-forget-how-vulnerable-they-are-despite-their-shirts-and-shoes/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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 Rohinton Mistry > [You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/you-have-to-maintain-a-fine-balance-between-hope-and-despair/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“What sense did the world make? Where was God, the Bloody Fool? Did He have no notion of fair and unfair? Couldn't He read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-sense-did-the-world-make-where-was-god-the-bloody-fool-did-he/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Lately you are brooding too much about rights. Give up this dangerous habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/lately-you-are-brooding-too-much-about-rights-give-up-this-dangerous/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Flirting with madness was one thing; when madness started flirting back, it was time to call the whole thing off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/flirting-with-madness-was-one-thing-when-madness-started-flirting/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“But since the world is imperfect, we must put blinders on the senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/but-since-the-world-is-imperfect-we-must-put-blinders-on-the-senses/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“And the further they go, the more they'll remember, they can take it from me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/and-the-further-they-go-the-more-they-ll-remember-they-can-take-it/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [World can be a bewildering place,and dreams and ambitions are often paths to the most pernicious of traps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/world-can-be-a-bewildering-place-and-dreams-and-ambitions-are-often/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“In those days," continued Ishvar, "it seemed to me that that was all one could expect in life. A harsh road strewn with sharp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/in-those-days-continued-ishvar-it-seemed-to-me-that-that-was-all-one/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“God is dead," said Maneck. "That's what a German philosopher wrote." She was shocked. "Trust the Germans to say such things," she frowned. "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/god-is-dead-said-maneck-that-s-what-a-german-philosopher-wrote-she/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“Where humans were concerned, the only emotion that made sense was wonder, at their ability to endure; and sorrow, for the hopelessness of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/where-humans-were-concerned-the-only-emotion-that-made-sense-was/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“I've done lots of jobs. Right now, I'm a hair collector." "That's good", said Ishvar tentatively. "What do you have to do as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/i-ve-done-lots-of-jobs-right-now-i-m-a-hair-collector-that-s-good/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [If there was an abundance of misery in the world, there was also sufficient joy, yes - as long as one knew where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/if-there-was-an-abundance-of-misery-in-the-world-there-was-also/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [The whole quilt is much more important than any single square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/the-whole-quilt-is-much-more-important-than-any-single-square/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [...there was another, gorier parturition, when two nations incarnated out of one. A foreigner drew a magic line on a map and called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/there-was-another-gorier-parturition-when-two-nations-incarnated-out/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) [Explore all 110 Rohinton Mistry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) ## 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": "“Look at that crowd', he said disgustedly. 'They think it's a circus.' 'And not a single coin are they donating', said Dina. 'That's not surprising. Pity can only be shown in small doses. 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