--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easy enough to tell the poor to…" description: "\"It is easy enough to tell the poor to accept their poverty as Gods will when you yourself have warm clothes and plenty of food and medical care and a r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/thomas-merton-231_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-tell-the-poor-to-ac_1742362.jpg" --- # It is easy enough to tell the poor to accept their poverty… ![“It is easy enough to tell the poor to accept their poverty as Gods will when you yourself have warm clothes and plenty of food and medical care and a roof over your head and no worry about the rent. But if you want them to believe youtry to share some of their poverty and see if you can accept it…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/thomas-merton-231_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-tell-the-poor-to-ac_1742362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/thomas-merton-231_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-tell-the-poor-to-ac_1742362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/thomas-merton-231_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-tell-the-poor-to-ac_1742362.jpg) > “It is easy enough to tell the poor to accept their poverty as Gods will when you yourself have warm clothes and plenty of food and medical care and a roof over your head and no worry about the rent. But if you want them to believe youtry to share some of their poverty and see if you can accept it as Gods will yourself!” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote challenges hypocrisy, urging privileged people to experience the hardships they ask the poor to accept as divine will. **In simple terms:** Don't tell others to accept suffering without feeling it yourself. Key Takeaway Empathy requires sharing others' struggles. Themes empathy social justice humility religion inequality Mood reflective critical compassionate Type ethical philosophical social. When to use this quote - charitable work - policy advocacy - community service - personal reflection Key Concepts moral responsibility social critique spiritual integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can you personally experience the struggles of those less fortunate? - What systemic changes could reduce reliance on personal acceptance? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic causes of poverty, focusing on individual acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Medical care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical-care/) [No worries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-worries/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Roof over your head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roof-over-your-head/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [As long as there is poverty there will be gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/as-long-as-there-is-poverty-there-will-be-gods/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [“Everybody finds themselves sometimes deficient in what they need, and put to inconvenience ... the richest people may easily be without something they want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-de-sales/everybody-finds-themselves-sometimes-deficient-in-what-they-need-and/) [St. Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-de-sales/) > [We had particular policies in this country that resulted in the larger share of poverty that we have in African-American communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/we-had-particular-policies-in-this-country-that-resulted-in-the/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“No, its the poor I tell you, and the poor only, as does such things for the poor. Don't think to come over me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-its-the-poor-i-tell-you-and-the-poor-only-as-does-such-things-for/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“I believe God works through other people. So, if you think about that it means you are God for someone else. Every day, reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-dorfner/i-believe-god-works-through-other-people-so-if-you-think-about-that/) [Maria Dorfner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-dorfner/) > [The saying (Money cant buy you happiness) is something the rich tell poor people to make them feel better about being broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-saying-money-cant-buy-you-happiness-is-something-the-rich-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our poor people are great people, a very lovable people, They don't need our pity and sympathy. They need our understanding love and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/our-poor-people-are-great-people-a-very-lovable-people-they-don-t/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [In a state of poverty, illiteracy, people just remain exposed to all kinds of manipulation. That's what we have lived. It's easier to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kagame/in-a-state-of-poverty-illiteracy-people-just-remain-exposed-to-all/) [Paul Kagame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kagame/) > [Economists think the poor need them to tell them that they are poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/economists-think-the-poor-need-them-to-tell-them-that-they-are-poor/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [There is no planning in a life of fighting to keep a roof over your head. It's pure survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/there-is-no-planning-in-a-life-of-fighting-to-keep-a-roof-over-your/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [May the roof over your heads be as well thatched As those inside are well matched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-the-roof-over-your-heads-be-as-well-thatched-as-those-inside-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When it was just you and your fight to live, the only thing that mattered was time. Time was the only thing reminding you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-wade/when-it-was-just-you-and-your-fight-to-live-the-only-thing-that/) [Rachael Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-wade/) > [“I don’t think I’ve made myself clear enough. So I’m spelling it out for you.” He ignored her squinting eyes and continued. “What we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-paige/i-don-t-think-i-ve-made-myself-clear-enough-so-i-m-spelling-it-out/) [Victoria Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-paige/) > [If you have a roof over your head, food in your cupboards and a bed to climb into every night, be grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-a-roof-over-your-head-food-in-your-cupboards-and-a-bed-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Not having a roof over your head at night must be frightening, cold, lonely and depressing. To be seriously ill as well must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/not-having-a-roof-over-your-head-at-night-must-be-frightening-cold/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is easy enough to tell the poor to accept their poverty as Gods will when you yourself have warm clothes and plenty of food and medical care and a roof over your head and no worry about the rent. 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