Where Plenty smiles - alas! she smiles for few, And those who taste not, yet behold her store, Are as the slaves that dig the golden ore, The wealth around them makes them doubly poor.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Prosperity benefits few, while those who see wealth but cannot touch it feel poorer than before.
- In plain terms
- Seeing wealth you cannot have makes you feel worse off.
- What can you take from it?
- Envy arises from proximity to unattainable wealth.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does seeing wealth help or harm?
- How does inequality feel?
Another view
Sometimes proximity to wealth offers indirect benefits like knowledge.
More from George Crabbe
The murmuring poor, who will not fast in peace.
Permalink to quote #2 A master passion is the love of news.
Permalink to quote #3 Our farmers round, well pleased with constant gain, Like other farmers, flourish and complain.
Permalink to quote #4
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