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About this quote

What does it mean?
A Jewish beggar is rare; few have seen such a sight.
In plain terms
Jewish beggars are uncommon.
What can you take from it?
Poverty among Jews is not typical.

Where it applies

  • urban studies
  • social welfare

Putting it to work

  • recognize economic diversity within groups
  • avoid assumptions about wealth

Questions to consider

  • Why do we notice rare exceptions?
  • How does rarity affect perception?

Another view

Rarity does not mean impossibility.

More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens

  1. The Jew is not a disturber of the peace of any country. Even his enemies will concede that. He is not a loafer, he is not a sot, he is not noisy, he is not a b…

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  2. These facts are all on the credit side of the proposition that the Jew is a good and orderly citizen. Summed up, they certify that he is quiet, peaceable, indu…

    Permalink to quote #101
  3. I have no special regard for Satan; but, I can at least claim that I have no prejudice against him. It may even be that I lean a little his way, on account of …

    Permalink to quote #98

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