--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poverty is not a state of mind, and…" description: "\"Poverty is not a state of mind, and escaping concentrated and generational hardship is an unimaginable mountain to climb.\" — Wes Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png" --- # Poverty is not a state of mind, and escaping concentrated… ![“Poverty is not a state of mind, and escaping concentrated and generational hardship is an unimaginable mountain to climb.” quote by Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png) > “Poverty is not a state of mind, and escaping concentrated and generational hardship is an unimaginable mountain to climb.” [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poverty is a deep, intergenerational challenge that feels insurmountable without massive effort. **In simple terms:** Poverty is a hard, inherited struggle. Key Takeaway Address systemic barriers. Themes poverty inequality generational trauma Mood somber determined Type social inspirational When to use this quote - urban neighborhoods - education access - family support Key Concepts socioeconomics policy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What policies can break the cycle? - How can communities empower each other? A Different Perspective Individual effort alone cannot erase structural inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climb/) [Generational Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generational-hardship-5602095/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Hardship Unimaginable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship-unimaginable-5602094/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-state-573538/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Unimaginable Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unimaginable-mountain-5602096/) ## Related quotes > [Real poverty is less a state of income than a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gilder/real-poverty-is-less-a-state-of-income-than-a-state-of-mind/) [George Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gilder/) > [“Poverty is a state of the mind that was created as a result of unhealthy environmental factors. When you are surrounded with unhealthy environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-nnadi/poverty-is-a-state-of-the-mind-that-was-created-as-a-result-of/) [Uzoma Nnadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-nnadi/) > [Poverty is rather a state of mind. No man who possess this mentality can outwardly command abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ore-abayomi/poverty-is-rather-a-state-of-mind-no-man-who-possess-this-mentality/) [Ore Abayomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ore-abayomi/) > [“Poverty is a state whose feature is generosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/poverty-is-a-state-whose-feature-is-generosity/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Success, just like poverty, is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/success-just-like-poverty-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake never even to make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-never-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Face your fears or they will climb over your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/face-your-fears-or-they-will-climb-over-your-back/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [A part of me will always be unflyable, stuck in the climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/a-part-of-me-will-always-be-unflyable-stuck-in-the-climb/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Sometimes you climb the mountain, and you fall and fail. Maybe there is a different path that will take you up. Sometimes a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/sometimes-you-climb-the-mountain-and-you-fall-and-fail-maybe-there-is/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [“Climb aboard, Jonesy. I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) ## More by Wes Moore > [Maryland will always have the backs of working people and organized labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/maryland-will-always-have-the-backs-of-working-people-and-organized/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [ “...he was telling me that our \[country's\] blood-soaked and atrocity-littered past was important but that the future didn't have to be its slave.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/he-was-telling-me-that-our-country-s-blood-soaked-and-atrocity/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [Economic growth is our North Star. Anyone who suggests we can just cut our way to prosperity isn't being honest. Anyone who suggests we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/economic-growth-is-our-north-star-anyone-who-suggests-we-can-just-cut/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“...I found myself surrounded by people--starting with my mom, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, and leading to a string of wonderful role models and mentors--who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-found-myself-surrounded-by-people-starting-with-my-mom-grandparents/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [I vowed we would defy the national politics of hyperpolarization and partisan divides and instead, build bridges of partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-vowed-we-would-defy-the-national-politics-of-hyperpolarization-and/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [I can tell you countless instances of this country's history of brutality, of inequity, of heartlessness. But if I do that without also talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-can-tell-you-countless-instances-of-this-country-s-history-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [After taking office, I vowed that the Moore-Miller administration would focus on four key pillars of progress in our first legislative session: elevating service,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/after-taking-office-i-vowed-that-the-moore-miller-administration/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [Investments in health care help us support individuals who have been historically left behind - from people with disabilities to people in poverty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/investments-in-health-care-help-us-support-individuals-who-have-been/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [When it is time for you to leave this school, leave your job, or even leave this earth, you make sure you have worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/when-it-is-time-for-you-to-leave-this-school-leave-your-job-or-even/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [We need to be abundantly clear on this - people living in poverty are the victims, not the perpetrators of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/we-need-to-be-abundantly-clear-on-this-people-living-in-poverty-are/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“I hear you, but it's not the process you should focus on; it's the joy you will feel after you go through the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-hear-you-but-it-s-not-the-process-you-should-focus-on-it-s-the-joy/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [When we say we want to take an all-of-the-above approach to public safety, we mean all of the above. As elected officials, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/when-we-say-we-want-to-take-an-all-of-the-above-approach-to-public/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“search it out. I also try to remind myself that while there is always a big-picture ambition or goal on the horizon, it’s important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/search-it-out-i-also-try-to-remind-myself-that-while-there-is-always/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“Heroism is simply the idea of living your life with the passion that it deserves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/heroism-is-simply-the-idea-of-living-your-life-with-the-passion-that/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [By keeping the Orioles at Camden Yards for the long run - regardless of ownership structure - we've sent a clear message to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/by-keeping-the-orioles-at-camden-yards-for-the-long-run-regardless-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) [Explore all 148 Wes Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) ## More Climb quotes > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [“Climb aboard, Jonesy. I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Sometimes you climb the mountain, and you fall and fail. Maybe there is a different path that will take you up. Sometimes a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/sometimes-you-climb-the-mountain-and-you-fall-and-fail-maybe-there-is/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [A part of me will always be unflyable, stuck in the climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/a-part-of-me-will-always-be-unflyable-stuck-in-the-climb/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [Face your fears or they will climb over your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/face-your-fears-or-they-will-climb-over-your-back/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake never even to make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-never-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to climb a mountain before you can enjoy the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-have-to-climb-a-mountain-before-you-can-enjoy-the-view/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Where I'm is one of those stair climbing machines the agent has installed. You climb and climb forever and never get off the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/where-i-m-is-one-of-those-stair-climbing-machines-the-agent-has/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“There are points in your life where you find yourself going nowhere reaching nowhere, standing nowhere. You feel yourself a mess occupied in nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquib-ali/there-are-points-in-your-life-where-you-find-yourself-going-nowhere/) [Aquib Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquib-ali/) > [“Don't be afraid to start at the bottom of the ladder. And have the courage to climb to the top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-hr-rosenthal/don-t-be-afraid-to-start-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-and-have-the/) [Levi HR Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-hr-rosenthal/) > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Browse all 797 Climb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climb/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Poverty is not a state of mind, and escaping concentrated and generational hardship is an unimaginable mountain to climb.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wes Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escaping-concentrated-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climb" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escaping-concentrated-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/wes-moore-2818_climb_poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escap_3141770.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Poverty is not a state of mind, and escaping concentrated and generational hardship is an unimaginable…” — Wes Moore", "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": "Wes Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Poverty is not a state of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escaping-concentrated-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/poverty-is-not-a-state-of-mind-and-escaping-concentrated-and/#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 } } ] } ```