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About this quote

What does it mean?
Blake depicts a mother's despair over poverty and hunger. The quote highlights the human cost of economic neglect.
In plain terms
Poverty causes parents to watch their children suffer and die.
What can you take from it?
Recognize the human cost of poverty and neglect.

Where it applies

  • social policy
  • charity
  • community aid

Putting it to work

  • address poverty
  • advocate for aid
  • listen to victims

Questions to consider

  • How do you respond to suffering?
  • What causes this desperation?

Another view

Individual circumstances vary and not all poverty is structural.

More from William Blake

  1. I am sure this Jesus will not do Either for Englishman or Jew.

    Permalink to quote #152
  2. My Brother starv'd between two Walls, His Children's Cry my Soul appalls;

    Permalink to quote #154
  3. This life's dim windows of the soul Distorts the heavens from pole to pole And leads you to believe a lie When you see with, not through, the eye.

    Permalink to quote #151

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