Heinrich Heine: Poverty Cradles Great Men
on Saturday, September 22, 2018Heinrich Heine Money Quote saying there are many great men that have been nurtured by poverty and made great by that experience of deprivation. Heinrich Heine said:
“Poverty sits by the cradle of all our great men and rocks all of them to manhood” — Heinrich Heine
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In this quote, Heinrich Heine seems to be conveying that experiencing poverty or lack early in life can help foster the strength of character and determination required to later achieve great things as an adult. Some key points:
- He portrays poverty as literally “sitting by the cradle” of infants who grow up to become impactful figures, meaning it is a presence from the very beginning of their lives.
- Heine states that poverty then “rocks all of them to manhood” – implying it nurtures grit, perseverance, independence and other virtues through hardship that help propel one to prominence later on.
- This suggests Heine believed facing scarcity and disadvantages from a young age, while difficult, can ultimately cultivate the fortitude and resilience that enables notable accomplishments if that initial poverty is overcome.
Overall, the quote reflects Heine’s perspective that encountering lack or scarcity from birth can paradoxically aid great people by instilling qualities like tenacity, courage and self-sufficiency within them that then empower remarkable achievements as adults – so poverty plays a role in “rocking them to manhood” despite the difficulties it imposes.