Quotes
"As the wealthiest nation on Earth, I believe the United States has a moral obligation to lead the fight against hunger and malnutrition, and to partner with others.”
Obama, B. (2012, May 18). Remarks by the President at Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security. obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. retrieved from:
“The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.”
Gandhi, M. Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi. Lingquotes.com. Retrieved from: http://www.lingquotes.com/authors/mahatma-gandhi-en/
“God never intended for one group of people to live in superfluous inordinate wealth, while others live in abject deadening poverty.”
King, M. L. (1963). 9 Powerful Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes on Eradicating Poverty. Fh.org. Retrieved from: https://www.fh.org/2017/01/13/mlk-ending-poverty/
"Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times - times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation.”
Mandela, N. (205, Feb. 3). Mandela Calls for Action on 'Unnatural' Poverty. Theguardian.com. retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/feb/03/hearafrica05.development.
“Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.”
“poverty is not just a lack of money, it is not having the capability to realize one’s full potential as a human being”
Sen, A. (1999). Why Poverty? Amartya.nl. Retrieved from: http://amartya.nl/why-poverty/
Johnson, S. (1782, Dec. 7). Samuel Johnson 1709–84. Oxfordreference.com. Retrieved from: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191843730.001.0001/q-oro-ed5-00005955
“Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.”
Franklin, B. (1839). Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright. Azquotes.com. Retrieved from: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/557180
“Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.”
Aristotle. (n.d.) Aristotle Quotes. Goodreads.com. Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/63444-poverty-is-the-parent-of-revolution-and-crime
“Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit.”
Khamarov. E. (n.d.) Eli Khamarov. Inequality.stanford.edu. Retrieved from: https://inequality.stanford.edu/publications/quote/eli-khamarov
“Poverty in America today leads not only to anxiety, unhappiness, discomfort and a lack of material goods. It leads to death. Poverty in America today is a death sentence for tens and tens of thousands of our people.”
“Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.”
Baldwin, J. (n.d.). James Baldwin. Inequality.stanford.edu. Retrieved from: https://inequality.stanford.edu/publications/quote/james-baldwin
“If the misery of our poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.”
Darwin, C. (1836, Aug. 19). Charles Darwin Quote “If the misery of our poor be caused not by the laws of nature…” todayinsci.com. Retrieved from: https://todayinsci.com/D/Darwin_Charles/DarwinCharles-MiseryQuote500px.htm
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
Kennedy, J. F. (n.d.). Thoughts on the Business of Life. Forbes.com. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/quotes/11409/
“Ensure humanity is served by wealth, not ruled by it.”
Bergoglio, J. M. (2014, January 22). Pope Francis Tells Davos: 'Ensure Humanity is Served by Wealth, Not Ruled by it.' Independent.co.uk. Retrieved from: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/pope-francis-tells-davos-business-leaders-ensure-humanity-is-served-by-wealth-not-ruled-by-it-9076618.html
Sanders, B. (2011, Sept. 13). Bernie Sanders Quotes. Azquotes.com. Retrieved from: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1241930
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
Confucius. (n.d.). Thoughts on The Business of Life. Forbes.com. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/quotes/1932/
Religious Statutes
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
(Deuteronomy 15:11 New International Version)
There is no satisfying the senses, not even with a shower of money. "The senses are of slight pleasure and really suffering." When a wise man has realised this, he takes no pleasure, as a disciple of the Buddhas, even in the pleasures of heaven. Instead he takes pleasure in the elimination of craving.
(Gautama Buddha)
When taxes are too heavy, the people live in poverty. When those who govern interfere too much, the people become rebellious. When those who govern demand too much of people’s lives, death is taken lightly. Life is of little value when the people are starving, so they will more easily sacrifice themselves to overthrow the government.”
(Tao Te Ching 75- Translated by S. Rosenthal)
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
(15:4-6 New International Version)
It is a way of sickness to shun the poor, to acclaim only heroic deeds, to abandon compassion and to be selfish. They are sick who are not humble, for they always try to be first. Only one who is compassionate can show true bravery Compassion is the means by which mankind may be guarded and saved, for heaven arms with compassion, those whom it would not see destroyed.
(Tao Te Ching 67- Translated by S. Rosenthal)
Why do you have no poor or needy among you? They said: “Because we share among ourselves equally.”
(Prophets in the Quran)
During the time of the kings who ruled this country in the past, King Srirama, the sixteen emperors beginning with Hariscandra, King Bali, and King Vikramarka, Brahmans suffered no poverty. In your government however you treat human beings equally and you are not respecting the code of varna and asrama [class and stage of life.]
(From Purana Perennis: Text on Hinduism)
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
(Proverbs 31: 8-9, New International Version)
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Luke 12: 33-34, New International Version)
"No friend is he who to his friend and comrade who comes imploring [for] food, will offer nothing. Let him depart - no home is that to rest in - and rather
seek a stranger to support him."
(R.V.10.117.4, The Vedas)
"Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
(Proverbs 14:31, New International Version)
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
"Confucius Quotes." BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2019. 30 August 2019. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/confucius_136380
“When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.”
(Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun)
"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you"—when you already have it with you."
(Proverbs 3:27-28, New International Version)
The wise man acts at one with the Tao, for he knows it is here that peace is found. It is for this reason that he is sought. Whilst guests enjoy good music and food, as these are supplied by a benevolent host, a description of Tao seems without form, for it cannot be heard and cannot be seen. But when the music and food are all ended, the taste of the Tao still remains
(Tao Te Ching 36- Translated by S. Rosenthal)
[You disbelievers are] like those before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they engaged. [It is] those whose deeds have become worthless in this world and in the Hereafter, and it is they who are the losers.
(Quran 9:69)
“If you knew what I know about the power of you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.” “Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the oceans depth are calm.” “I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”
(Gautama Buddha)
"I, the Lord, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not ill-treat or oppress foreigners, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place."
(Jeremiah 22:3, New International Version)
"The satiated man and the hungry one do not see the same thing when they look upon a loaf of bread."
"Rumi." AZQuotes.com. Wind and Fly LTD, 2019. 30 August 2019. https://www.azquotes.com/quote/831930
"Essential Sufism". Book by James Fadiman and Robert Frager, 1997.
"And Allah has favoured some of you above others in worldlygifts. But those more favoured will not restore any part of their worldly gifts to those whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal sharers in them. Will they then deny the favour of Allah?"
The Quran (Ch.16:V.72)
“Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
"Mahatma Gandhi Quotes." BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2019. 30 August 2019. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi_150720
“There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”
"Mahatma Gandhi Quotes." BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2019. 30 August 2019. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi_103624
"If in any of the towns in the land that the Lord your God is giving you there is a fellow-Israelite in need, then do not be selfish and refuse to help him. Instead, be generous and lend him as much as he needs"
(Deuteronomy 15:7-8, New International Version)
"Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!” – if you don’t give them the necessities of life?"
(James 2:15-16, New International Version)
