--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I may be a homeless, old man, but that…" description: "\"“I may be a homeless, old man, but that doesn’t make me worthless.”\" — Shannon A. Thompson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/shannon-a-thompson-6138_homeless_i-may-be-a-homeless-old-man-but-that-doe_174584.jpg" --- # I may be a homeless, old man, but that doesn’t make me… ![“I may be a homeless, old man, but that doesn’t make me worthless.” quote by Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/shannon-a-thompson-6138_homeless_i-may-be-a-homeless-old-man-but-that-doe_174584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/shannon-a-thompson-6138_homeless_i-may-be-a-homeless-old-man-but-that-doe_174584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/shannon-a-thompson-6138_homeless_i-may-be-a-homeless-old-man-but-that-doe_174584.jpg) > ““I may be a homeless, old man, but that doesn’t make me worthless.”” [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑worth isn’t defined by material status; dignity persists despite hardship. **In simple terms:** Being homeless doesn’t erase value. Key Takeaway Affirm personal dignity regardless of circumstance. Themes self‑worth homelessness dignity resilience Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational social When to use this quote - street life - interview - public speaking Key Concepts identity social stigma human rights Questions to Reflect On - What inner values sustain you? - How can others recognize worth beyond status? A Different Perspective Society often judges worth by wealth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Homeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeless/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) ## Related quotes > [Government is the only institution that can take a valuable commodity like paper, and make it worthless by applying ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/government-is-the-only-institution-that-can-take-a-valuable-commodity/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Obviously, I'm not homeless. I'm not an old alcoholic. I'm not jumping trains. I just like to live in a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/obviously-i-m-not-homeless-i-m-not-an-old-alcoholic-i-m-not-jumping/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Without love even the most radical devotion to God is of no value to Him. Let me make sure that sinks in… You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-love-even-the-most-radical-devotion-to-god-is-of-no-value-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If life was worthless, what was death?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/if-life-was-worthless-what-was-death/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Freinds are like pennies. . . two face +worthless!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freinds-are-like-pennies-two-face-worthless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Worthless people blame their karma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burmese-proverb/worthless-people-blame-their-karma/) Burmese Proverb > [There is some lack either of sense or of character in one who becomes involved in difficulties with the worthless or the vicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/there-is-some-lack-either-of-sense-or-of-character-in-one-who-becomes/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [There's nothing valuable about being ripped off or sold on a worthless degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/there-s-nothing-valuable-about-being-ripped-off-or-sold-on-a/) [Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/) > [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Grow up? Get herself straightened out? Her mind reeled from the verbal battering. No matter what she did, her father would tell her she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/grow-up-get-herself-straightened-out-her-mind-reeled-from-the-verbal/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) ## More by Shannon A. Thompson > [“Without this flock, I would be worthless. Without the people in this flock, I'd be empty. Without the people who started this flock, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/without-this-flock-i-would-be-worthless-without-the-people-in-this/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“I didn't particularly feel like explaining myself to eighteen bewildered people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-didn-t-particularly-feel-like-explaining-myself-to-eighteen/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“We had grown into one another somewhere along the way. We were officially a team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/we-had-grown-into-one-another-somewhere-along-the-way-we-were/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“Sometimes battles are unavoidable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/sometimes-battles-are-unavoidable/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“I leaned against the desk, ran my hand over my father’s paperwork, and picked up a pen. Turning around, I shoved it into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-leaned-against-the-desk-ran-my-hand-over-my-father-s-paperwork-and/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“When everything was right, something was bound to go wrong. (Jessica)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/when-everything-was-right-something-was-bound-to-go-wrong-jessica/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“I leaned out one last time and caught a snowflake on my tongue. They tasted so good, so pure and so divine, like nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-leaned-out-one-last-time-and-caught-a-snowflake-on-my-tongue-they/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“Bad bloods aren't born evil or dangerous. We are taught to be, but only because we have to if we want to survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/bad-bloods-aren-t-born-evil-or-dangerous-we-are-taught-to-be-but-only/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“Don’t trust anybody else—no matter how close you are to them.” (Eric)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/don-t-trust-anybody-else-no-matter-how-close-you-are-to-them-eric/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“With the smell so close, the ocean came into view only a few moments later, sometimes peeking between old brick buildings with bright blue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/with-the-smell-so-close-the-ocean-came-into-view-only-a-few-moments/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“I thought that love at first sight was something that was only in cheesy movies and romantic novels until that moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-thought-that-love-at-first-sight-was-something-that-was-only-in/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“Just because I wasn’t human, didn’t mean I could discount human life. (Eric)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/just-because-i-wasn-t-human-didn-t-mean-i-could-discount-human-life/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“I found him between a reality and a nightmare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-found-him-between-a-reality-and-a-nightmare/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“I don’t believe that," I said, and he raised his brow beneath his shaggy hair. "I never asked you to.” (Jessica)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-don-t-believe-that-i-said-and-he-raised-his-brow-beneath-his-shaggy/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“...the truth was more powerful than a lie could ever be (Eric)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/the-truth-was-more-powerful-than-a-lie-could-ever-be-eric/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) [Explore all 100 Shannon A. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) ## More Homeless quotes > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Covid-19 has lit an even hotter fire in me to become a more active participant in advocating for homeless people and homelessness relief. Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/covid-19-has-lit-an-even-hotter-fire-in-me-to-become-a-more-active/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [You don't want to end up telling somebody who's homeless or a refugee that stress is all perceptual, because it sure isn't in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/you-don-t-want-to-end-up-telling-somebody-who-s-homeless-or-a-refugee/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [I had friends who lived on my couch because they were going to be homeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-friends-who-lived-on-my-couch-because-they-were-going-to-be/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [Something will be there when the flood recedes. We know that. It will be those people now standing in the water, and on those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/something-will-be-there-when-the-flood-recedes-we-know-that-it-will/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [For my whole life I have dedicated myself to those who have been subjected to injustice. I've conducted investigations and written in newspapers about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/for-my-whole-life-i-have-dedicated-myself-to-those-who-have-been/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [With me, you never know what is going to happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-ivanisevic/with-me-you-never-know-what-is-going-to-happen/) [Goran Ivanisevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-ivanisevic/) > [People give me money and I don't know why, my real collection plate is an empty cup held by a homeless guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-give-me-money-and-i-don-t-know-why-my-real-collection-plate-is/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“We saw so many sad and helpless people. I remember looking at people on the TeeVee from other countries who was all drenched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-antieau/we-saw-so-many-sad-and-helpless-people-i-remember-looking-at-people/) Kim Antieau > [I want to deal with the homeless situation here in Washington, D.C. I think it is a travesty that we've got men - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-deal-with-the-homeless-situation-here-in-washington-d-c-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [My family was actually homeless for several years when I was a kid. It's a bit unusual for a member of Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyrsten-sinema/my-family-was-actually-homeless-for-several-years-when-i-was-a-kid-it/) [Kyrsten Sinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyrsten-sinema/) [Browse all 815 Homeless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I may be a homeless, old man, but that doesn’t make me worthless.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shannon A. 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