Alms Quote by Saint Francis de Sales
“Do not complain then of your poverty, my daughter, - we only complain of that which is unwelcome, and if poverty is unwelcome to you, you are no longer poor in spirit.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: "On Poverty and Contentment", 1600s
True poverty is a spiritual state, not material lack; if you reject material need, you are spiritually rich.
In simple terms: Spiritual wealth outweighs material lack.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner contentment over external scarcity.
Themes
poverty
spirituality
contentment
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal hardship
- charitable work
- mindfulness practice
- financial planning
Key Concepts
stoicism
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “poor in spirit” mean to you?
- How can you practice gratitude amid scarcity?
A Different Perspective
Material poverty can still cause real hardship despite spiritual outlook.
![“...for the interests of rulers require that their subjects should be poor in spirit, and that there should be no strong bond of friendship or society among them, which love, above all other motives, is likely to inspire, as our Athenian tyrants learned by experience; for... [love] had a strength…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f26/plato-103_friendship_for-the-interests-of-rulers-require-that_127166.jpg)
![“Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than men [to thy charity]. For their race brings not harm upon thee in any wise, when thou fearest it from thine own race.” quote by Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/915/al-ma-arri-47224_alms_give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-bir_171746.jpg)
