Ralph Waldo Emerson: Poverty Demoralizes
on Thursday, November 2, 2017Ralph Waldo Emerson Money Quote saying that poverty crushes anyone who is enslaved by debt. Ralph Waldo Emerson said:
“Poverty demoralizes. A man in debt is so far a slave” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
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In this quote, Ralph Waldo Emerson seems to be making two key points about poverty and debt:
- That experiencing poverty can have a demoralizing psychological impact, eroding one’s sense of autonomy and well-being.
- That being significantly in debt amounts to a form of slavery, as it compromises one’s independence and freedom of decision-making.
By stating poverty “demoralizes” and that a man in debt is “so far a slave”, Emerson appears to argue that severe lack of financial means undermines individuals, making them feel despondent about their situation and beholden to creditors in ways that curtail their agency.
Overall, the quote conveys Emerson’s view that poverty and heavy indebtedness burden people not just materially but also mentally and existentially, diminishing their sense of self-determination and control over their own circumstances and lives to an enslaving degree. Both poverty and debt are portrayed as degrading personal autonomy and empowerment according to Emerson.