Samuel Johnson: Decent Provision for Poor
on Monday, June 13, 2016Samuel Johnson Money Quote saying how a society cares for those in poverty is a telling sign of that society. Samuel Johnson said:
“A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization” — Samuel Johnson
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In this quote, Samuel Johnson is asserting that how a society cares for and provides for its most vulnerable citizens, particularly the poor, is a true measure of how civilized and advanced that society is.
Johnson seems to be arguing that a hallmark of a just and developed civilization is whether it has adequate social safety nets and welfare systems to ensure basic standards of living and prevent extreme hardship for those living in poverty.
The quote suggests Johnson believed a “decent provision for the poor” through social policies is an ethical obligation of a humane civilization, and that the way a population treats its most disadvantaged members reflects its overall level of compassion and social responsibility.