Christian Bovee: Contemptible Poor
on Tuesday, September 1, 2020Christian Nestell Bovee Money Quote saying that being poor is a matter of perception and can be perceived as respectable. Christian Nestell Bovee said:
“Poverty is only contemptible when it is felt to be so. Doubtless the best way to make our poverty respectable is to seem never to feel it as an evil” — Christian Nestell Bovee
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In this quote, Christian Nestell Bovee seems to be conveying that maintaining dignity and composure can help mitigate stigma potentially associated with poverty. By stating poverty is “only contemptible when it is felt to be so”, and that the best way to make poverty “respectable is to seem never to feel it as an evil”, Bovee implies that outwardly embracing hardship or bitterness confirms others’ negative perceptions, while inwardly accepting circumstances with grace and optimism discourages pity or judgment from others.
The quote portrays Bovee’s perspective that poverty impacts one’s reputation less when faced with equanimity rather than visible resentment, allowing inherent worth to shine through external conditions. Overall, he appears to be advocating maintaining pride and perspective in oneself regardless of monetary means as an approach to preserving respect from others in difficult financial times.
Birthday: February 22, 1820 – Death: January 18, 1904