---
title: "Oh, God! that bread should be so dear, And flesh and blood so cheap! — Thomas Hood Quote #18 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "Oh, God! that bread should be so dear, And flesh and blood so cheap! — a quote by Thomas Hood."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # Oh, God! that bread should be so dear, And flesh and blood so cheap!

[Thomas Hood](https://quotesby.net/Thomas-Hood)\#18

[Economics](https://quotesby.net/topics/economics/)[Inequality](https://quotesby.net/topics/inequality/)[Survival](https://quotesby.net/topics/survival/)[Value](https://quotesby.net/topics/value/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?The speaker prays to God, shocked that basic necessities are expensive while life is cheap.In plain termsFood is costly but human life is undervalued.What can you take from it?Basic survival needs should be affordable.

### Where it applies

- economic hardship
- prayer
- protest

### Putting it to work

- demand living wages
- fight food insecurity

### Questions to consider

- Is bread affordable for you?
- Who decides the value of life?

### Another view

Economic conditions vary significantly by region.

## More from Thomas Hood

1. > Oh, Men, with Sisters dear! Oh, Men, with Mothers and Wives! It is not linen you're wearing out, But human creatures' lives!

[Permalink to quote \#17](https://quotesby.net/Thomas-Hood/17/ "Permalink to quote 17")
2. > 'Twas in the prime of summer-time An evening calm and cool, And four-and-twenty happy boys Came bounding out of school: There were some that ran and some that …

[Permalink to quote \#19](https://quotesby.net/Thomas-Hood/19/ "Permalink to quote 19")
3. > Work! work! work! While the cock is crowing aloof! And work-work-work, Till the stars shine through the roof!

[Permalink to quote \#16](https://quotesby.net/Thomas-Hood/16/ "Permalink to quote 16")

## Related quotes

1. > A wagonload of money will scarcely purchase a wagonload of provisions.

[George Washington](https://quotesby.net/George-Washington)[George Washington quote \#76](https://quotesby.net/George-Washington/76/ "Permalink to quote 76")
2. > Only a fool thinks price and value are the same.

[Antonio Machado](https://quotesby.net/Antonio-Machado)[Antonio Machado quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Antonio-Machado/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > What is valuable is not new, and what is new is not valuable.

[Henry Brougham](https://quotesby.net/Henry-Brougham)[Henry Brougham quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Henry-Brougham/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

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