---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are we not to pity and supply the poor…"
description: "\"Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles them all our brethren.\" — Th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png"
---

#  Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have…

![“Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles them all our brethren.” quote by Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png)

> “Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles them all our brethren.”

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We should feel compassion and aid the poor, recognizing them as our brothers and sisters.

**In simple terms:** Pity and help the poor as fellow humans.

Key Takeaway

Treat all people as kin.

Themes

compassion poverty humanity

Mood

hopeful serious

Type

ethical spiritual

When to use this quote

- charitable work
- community outreach
- faith discussions

Key Concepts

Christian ethics social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we help without fostering dependence?
- What does “brethren” mean in modern society?

A Different Perspective

Some argue charity creates dependency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/)

## Related quotes

> [Vice president is the bridesmaid, and nobody cares about you. Nobody wants you. You're just in the way. You're there to play a subsidiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/vice-president-is-the-bridesmaid-and-nobody-cares-about-you-nobody/)

[Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/)

> [A poor relation—is the most irrelevant thing in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-poor-relation-is-the-most-irrelevant-thing-in-nature/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [Politics is too often regarded as a poor relation, inherently dependent and subsidiary; it is rarely praised as something with a life and character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/politics-is-too-often-regarded-as-a-poor-relation-inherently/)

[Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/)

> [A poor relation is the most irrelevant thing in nature, a piece of non pertinent correspondence, an odious approximation, a haunting conscience, a preposterous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-poor-relation-is-the-most-irrelevant-thing-in-nature-a-piece-of-non/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [The Christian Democrats always made you feel like the poor relation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-kohl/the-christian-democrats-always-made-you-feel-like-the-poor-relation/)

[Helmut Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-kohl/)

> [They tell us that "Pity is akin to Love;" if so, Pity must be a poor relation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/they-tell-us-that-pity-is-akin-to-love-if-so-pity-must-be-a-poor/)

[Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/)

> [“Pesa itolewe kwa masharti au bila masharti chukua, kwani huyo aliyeitoa si yake. Benki, kwa mfano, ikitaka kukupa mkopo itakuwa na masharti yake; chukua,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/pesa-itolewe-kwa-masharti-au-bila-masharti-chukua-kwani-huyo/)

[Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/)

> [I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/)

[Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/)

> [The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-setting-sun-is-reflected-from-the-windows-of-the-alms-house-as/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/)

[Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/)

> [Alms (is) for the purity of your soul, and flourishment and expansion of your sustenence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-bint-muhammad/alms-is-for-the-purity-of-your-soul-and-flourishment-and-expansion-of/)

[Fatima bint Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-bint-muhammad/)

> [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/those-good-men-who-take-such-pleasure-in-relieving-the-miserable-for/)

[Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/)

> [In giving alms, let us rather look at the needs of the poor than his claim to your charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-giving-alms-let-us-rather-look-at-the-needs-of-the-poor-than-his/)

[Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/)

> [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

## More by Thomas Sprat

> [A great proportion of the wretchedness which has embittered married life, has originated in a negligence of trifles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/a-great-proportion-of-the-wretchedness-which-has-embittered-married/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [Greediness of getting more deprives... the enjoyment of what it had got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/greediness-of-getting-more-deprives-the-enjoyment-of-what-it-had-got/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [In all works of liberality something more is to be considered besides the occasion of the givers; and that is the occasion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/in-all-works-of-liberality-something-more-is-to-be-considered-besides/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [Passion is the great mover and spring of the soul. When men’s passions are strongest, they may have great and noble effects; but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/passion-is-the-great-mover-and-spring-of-the-soul-when-men-s-passions/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [Do not too many believe no zeal to be spiritual but what is censorious or vindictive? Whereas no zeal is spiritual that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/do-not-too-many-believe-no-zeal-to-be-spiritual-but-what-is/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [It is always esteemed the greatest mischief a man can do to those whom he loves, to raise men's expectations of them too high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/it-is-always-esteemed-the-greatest-mischief-a-man-can-do-to-those/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [What you dislike in another take care to correct in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/what-you-dislike-in-another-take-care-to-correct-in-yourself/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [Invention is an Heroic thing, and plac'd above the reach of a low, and vulgar Genius. It requires an active, a bold, a nimble,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/invention-is-an-heroic-thing-and-plac-d-above-the-reach-of-a-low-and/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [...they have never affirm'd any thing, concerning the Cause, till the Trial was past: whereas, to do it before, is a most venomous thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/they-have-never-affirm-d-any-thing-concerning-the-cause-till-the/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [ \[In the Royal Society, there\] has been, a constant Resolution, to reject all the amplifications, digressions, and swellings of style: to return back to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/in-the-royal-society-there-has-been-a-constant-resolution-to-reject/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [All false practices and affections of knowledge are more odious to God, and deserve to be so to men, than any want or defect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/all-false-practices-and-affections-of-knowledge-are-more-odious-to/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

> [Forever all goodness will be most charming; forever all wickedness will be most odious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/forever-all-goodness-will-be-most-charming-forever-all-wickedness/)

[Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

[Explore all 13 Thomas Sprat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/)

## More Alms quotes

> [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [In giving alms, let us rather look at the needs of the poor than his claim to your charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-giving-alms-let-us-rather-look-at-the-needs-of-the-poor-than-his/)

[Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/)

> [Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/those-good-men-who-take-such-pleasure-in-relieving-the-miserable-for/)

[Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/)

> [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [Alms (is) for the purity of your soul, and flourishment and expansion of your sustenence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-bint-muhammad/alms-is-for-the-purity-of-your-soul-and-flourishment-and-expansion-of/)

[Fatima bint Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-bint-muhammad/)

> [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/)

[Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/)

> [The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-setting-sun-is-reflected-from-the-windows-of-the-alms-house-as/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/)

[Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/)

> [“Pesa itolewe kwa masharti au bila masharti chukua, kwani huyo aliyeitoa si yake. Benki, kwa mfano, ikitaka kukupa mkopo itakuwa na masharti yake; chukua,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/pesa-itolewe-kwa-masharti-au-bila-masharti-chukua-kwani-huyo/)

[Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/)

> [The best remedy for dryness of spirit, is to picture ourselves as beggars in the presence of God and the Saints, and like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-neri/the-best-remedy-for-dryness-of-spirit-is-to-picture-ourselves-as/)

[Philip Neri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-neri/)

> [Walking does good to the fat and giving alms does good to the sinners; these both make one feel lighter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/walking-does-good-to-the-fat-and-giving-alms-does-good-to-the-sinners/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-birds-which-go-forth-at-morning/)

[Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/)

> [Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/where-there-is-plenty-charity-is-a-duty-not-a-courtesy/)

[Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/)

> [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/)

> [Yet, when we must put aside our wrath, quench our envy, soften our anger, offer our prayers, and show a disposition which is reasonable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/yet-when-we-must-put-aside-our-wrath-quench-our-envy-soften-our-anger/)

[Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/)

[Browse all 124 Alms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles them all our brethren.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Sprat"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/thomas-sprat-35591_alms_are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-t_194687.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The…” — Thomas Sprat",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Thomas Sprat",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Are we not to pity and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
