--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not poverty so much as pretense…" description: "\"It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man.\" — Washington Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/washington-irving-1386_hollow_it-is-not-poverty-so-much-as-pretense-th_3188661.png" --- # It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a… ![“It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man.” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/washington-irving-1386_hollow_it-is-not-poverty-so-much-as-pretense-th_3188661.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/washington-irving-1386_hollow_it-is-not-poverty-so-much-as-pretense-th_3188661.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/washington-irving-1386_hollow_it-is-not-poverty-so-much-as-pretense-th_3188661.png) > “It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man.” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often hide their true hardship behind a façade of dignity. **In simple terms:** Pretending hides real suffering. Key Takeaway Recognize and address hidden struggles. Themes poverty pretense vulnerability Mood empathetic serious Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - financial hardship - family issues Key Concepts social stigma self-deception Questions to Reflect On - What pretense are you maintaining? - How can you offer genuine support? A Different Perspective Denial can worsen the situation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harasses-2479651/) [Harasses Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harasses-ruined-5872503/) [Hollow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollow/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Pretense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-pretense-5672980/) [Pretense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretense/) [Pretense Harasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretense-harasses-5672981/) [Pretension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretension/) [Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruined/) [Ruined Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruined-man-266869/) ## Related quotes > [It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man - the struggle between a proud mind and an empty purse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-not-poverty-so-much-as-pretense-that-harasses-a-ruined-man-the/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [“When someone harasses me, I take a look at the situation and ask the question: What motivated them? When I get the answer I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-someone-harasses-me-i-take-a-look-at-the-situation-and-ask-the/) [steven magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Success has ruined many a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/success-has-ruined-many-a-man/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“The boy I’d ruined had become the man to save me from my oblivion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-m-johnson/the-boy-i-d-ruined-had-become-the-man-to-save-me-from-my-oblivion/) [A.M. 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He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-rise-authors-now-and-then-who-seem-proof-against-the-mutability/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-nothing-in-england-that-exercises-a-more-delightful-spell/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Hollow quotes > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I've buried six Guardian Angels who have been shot and killed in the line of duty. 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