Gilbert Keith Chesterton: Rich Not Forget
on Thursday, September 6, 2018Gilbert Keith Chesterton Money Quote saying those who have lived in poverty are able to think of other things sometimes, but good hearted wealthy people must never forget the poor. Gilbert Keith Chesterton said:
“The honest poor can sometimes forget poverty. The honest rich can never forget it” — Gilbert Keith Chesterton
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In this quote, Gilbert Keith Chesterton seems to be conveying that while poverty can potentially be temporarily forgotten by those experiencing it, wealth tends to always carry a sense of responsibility or reminder of lack. Some key points:
- He notes that “the honest poor” – those living with lack through no fault of their own – have the potential to occasionally overlook or escape awareness of their impoverished state, even if just momentarily.
- However, Chesterton asserts that “the honest rich” – those who accumulated wealth ethically – can never truly dismiss from their minds the reality that others live without such financial security.
- Wealth seems to come with an inherent awareness of one’s privileged position and how easily circumstances could be different, keeping even the affluent grounded and conscious of others’ hardships.
- In contrast, poverty may offer brief respite or distraction from its challenges, even if difficulties ultimately return to the forefront.
Overall, the quote conveys Chesterton’s perspective that wealth tends to intrinsically instill a constant, sober perspective of one’s fortunate circumstances and how tenuous financial well-being can be for many, preventing the rich from ever fully ignoring the reality of lack, unlike the occasional temporary escape poverty may provide the poor from actively experiencing its difficulties.
Birthday 29 May 1874 – Death: 14 June 1936