Herman Melville: Poor Seem Rich
on Saturday, September 4, 2021Herman Melville Money Quote saying poor people are not good at pretending to be wealthy no matter their airs. Herman Melville said:
“Poor people make a very poor business of it when they try to seem rich” — Herman Melville
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In this quote, Herman Melville seems to be making an observation about the pitfalls of people from lower economic backgrounds attempting to project an image of wealth beyond their means. Specifically:
- Melville notes that when poor people try to “seem rich” through their appearance, possessions or lifestyle, it usually turns out to be a “very poor business” or a bad decision.
- He implies that those without significant financial resources often end up worse off by putting on airs of affluence they cannot truly sustain, likely through getting into debt or legal/social trouble.
- Melville appears to be suggesting that people are better served conducting themselves within realistic limits of their actual economic circumstances rather than pretending to be wealthier through superficial displays.
The best interpretation is that Melville believed living beyond one’s means through phony shows of riches is a risky gamble that rarely pays off well according to his perspective that modesty aligned with one’s true resources is a wiser approach than hollow attempts to portray wealth through inauthentic signaling of status. His quote conveys skepticism around keeping up false appearances of affluence without commensurate financial backing.
Birthday: August 1, 1819 – Death: September 28, 1891