Wealth
‹ 3 · Outline · 5 ›
4.Poverty and its condition
4a.The misery and degradation of the poor
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 198–199Poverty: each man has but one coat; the beggar's rags bring scorn.read · scan
- p. 236–237Odysseus appears as a poor old beggar dependent on alms.read · scan
- p. 245–246Beggars compete for alms; Odysseus says there is no need to be jealous of other men's goods.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 46It is hard not to chafe at poverty, easy not to be proud of wealth.read · scan
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 115–117Contrast between Job's former standing and the destitute outcasts gnawing dry ground who now scorn him.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 153The poor and helpless are hunted by the wicked; God is asked not to forget the poor.read · scan
Sophocles, Oedipus the KingVol. 8
- p. 218–223Oedipus, once rolling in wealth, will go poor and blind with a staff.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 23–24The poverty of his parents' fortune interrupted his schooling.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 915–916God spreads out or doles out provision; poverty is no reason to kill children.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 25An aged, indigent fisherman with wife and children casts his net only four times a day for his living.read · scan
- p. 73The prince, fallen from royalty, must earn a bare living cutting and selling firewood; his learning is deemed profitless in a city interested only in getting money.read · scan
- p. 184The sixth brother, destitute and hungry, begs at the rich house of a Barmecide.read · scan
- p. 217Kerim the fisherman's poverty and toil are contrasted with the palace lord's ease; want of his family drove him.read · scan
- p. 217–220Poor fisherman in patched, vermin-ridden clothes is enriched by the Khalifeh's silk garments; poverty and gratitude contrasted.read · scan
- p. 231–232He laments the gap between the affluent owner and himself in poverty and toil, like wine and vinegar.read · scan
- p. 233Poverty teaches ill manners, says the porter, while the host declares him a brother.read · scan
- p. 359The silver tray and dainties lighten their poverty, and the mother wonders who their benefactor is.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 309Romeo, wrongly slandered, left aged and poor, begging his bread after enriching his lord.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 397–398Cellini labours under lack of money and countless accidents that would have cowed a man of adamant.read · scan
- p. 434He paid over two hundred crowns from his poverty for the work.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 279Poor laborers driven to horse-corn bread by high grain prices, which landlords keep up by licensed export for private gain.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 177–178Lack of ducats causes ruin; money would have freed him.read · scan
- p. 375The student's poverty, hunger and nakedness are described, though study can lead to rewards of comfort and rule.read · scan
- p. 377The soldier is poorer than the student, with late or no pay, and few are rewarded compared with those war destroys.read · scan
- p. 511Joan asks what petticoat and shoes Sancho earned; he promises an island and lordship, while the family is in need.read · scan
Captain Walter Bigges, Drake's Great ArmadaVol. 33
- p. 233–234Inhabitants of Ferro are so poor they nearly starve, so nothing is gotten there.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 37–38Poverty, usury and broken estates dispose a state to sedition, as in Rome before the Civil War.read · scan
- p. 38–39Want among the common people joined with broken estates of the better sort makes danger imminent.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 216–218Wagner mocks the Clown's poverty and hunger; pays him guilders to bind him in service.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 447–448Ceres' blessing promises plenty, full barns, and freedom from scarcity and want.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 868–871Overreach puts profit above a dinner; poverty of Wellborn deserves pity, not blame, says the lady.read · scan
- p. 879–883Marrall disbelieves Wellborn, a beggar, will be received by the lady.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 328Donne's estate is reduced by youth, travel and bounty, and Sir George withholds means of livelihood.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 387His mother objects to his empty purse; benefactors give subscriptions.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 251–252God will have mercy on the poor who hope in Him.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 128–130Robbed of spending money, he begs but cannot sell his jewelsread · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 93–94Poor Circassians trade their beautiful daughters to seraglios.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 14–15His father warns verse-makers are generally beggars.read · scan
- p. 120–121The woman's poverty and distress drive her to sweep before doors hoping for alms.read · scan
Henry Fielding, Preface to Joseph AndrewsVol. 39
- p. 180–181A poor family's affectation of riches and finery is ridiculous, while their hunger is not.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Life of Addison, 1672-1719Vol. 27
- p. 158–159Addison, distressed by indigence when his pension lapsed, is forced to become a travelling tutor.read · scan
Thomas Gray, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 443–445Chill penury repressed the noble rage of the poor; their useful toil should not be mocked by grandeur.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 509Passing rich on forty pounds a year; poverty of the widow left forlorn.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 267Points to vanished coin, unemployed Parisians and a new poor tax as evidence of impoverishment under the new regime.read · scan
- p. 267–268Leaders comfort a people in rags by calling them philosophers while indigence and ruin of the state grow.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 329–330Master's wardrobe is stolen and only one horse remains, showing his diminished means.read · scan
- p. 346–347Riccaut, a discharged captain, is ruined and complains merit has no reward.read · scan
William Blake, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 588–591The charity children are the poor whom aged guardians should treat with pity.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 171–173Regrets not having heeded advice to run a market or clerk in a bank; poverty is his lot.read · scan
- p. 213–215Poverty ends servile friendship; want as an iron-hearted carlread · scan
- p. 215–217Poverty drives the bard away; coin never stays in his pocketsread · scan
- p. 291–293Poverty and Want appear as helpless victims of oppression.read · scan
- p. 311–312Poet loves riches' pleasures yet lacks means to live.read · scan
- p. 312–314Poverty and want force poets to beg; he would rather return to the plough.read · scan
- p. 423–425Poverty and want beset the poet while Mammon's cur wears comfortable fur.read · scan
- p. 543–545Poverty and hunger beset the household; the poet begs for a pound to relieve his poor pockets.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 470–471Poverty of the wild hay-man's family, whose dangerous trade barely feeds them.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 647–649Old Simon and wife are poorest of the poor, unable to work their scrap of land.read · scan
- p. 658–659He fears solitude, distress and poverty, having lived as if needs would come unsought.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 30–31Perpetua remarks that it is a bad thing to be born poor; Renzo asks whether a priest should deal hardly with the poor.read · scan
- p. 48–49Scarce year and hard times: the collection goes badly and the poor measure everything by scarcity.read · scan
- p. 53Famine year: emaciated beggars, starving laborers and children stealing herbs show poverty's misery.read · scan
- p. 92–93Poverty and famine pervade the peasant household: scant polenta, empty inn, family eyeing food with envious desire.read · scan
- p. 112–113Villagers remark on the scarcity of the harvest and poverty of the times.read · scan
- p. 137–138Poverty of the times gives a frugal meal, scanty for an uncertain future.read · scan
- p. 191Renzo finds flour and loaves scattered in a famine year and takes it for abundance meant to quiet the poor.read · scan
- p. 191Renzo, amazed at loaves lying about in a year of famine, takes some, reasoning he would pay the owner.read · scan
- p. 191–194The looters enjoy sudden abundance after long want, fearing others will sweep the bakeries.read · scan
- p. 203Plunder of chests, tills and flour sacks shows the seizure of property in scarcity.read · scan
- p. 229–230Coins lie on the tavern table, from bakers' tills or spectators' pockets, left unguarded while all watch public events.read · scan
- p. 282–283Renzo sees beggars and families in misery, finding in the new country the poverty he had left.read · scan
- p. 283–284Renzo counts his last few coins and sees starving beggars ruined by long poverty and famine.read · scan
- p. 454–455Famine ruins shopkeepers, workmen and servants, reducing all to beggary and poverty; businesses close.read · scan
- p. 455Country families flood the city in extreme poverty, starvation and squalor, seeking charity that cannot meet demand.read · scan
- p. 460Famine levels ranks: misery invades all classes, nobility wear shabby clothes, and the rich can only choose between hunger and hunger.read · scan
- p. 634–635The bereaved Marquis offers to use his superfluous inheritances to help the couple by buying their property; Don Abbondio says the poor are cheated when forced to sell.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 76Famine and poverty leave the family unable to buy daily bread and drive the plan.read · scan
- p. 78–79Famine and scarcity drive the parents to abandon the children to save themselves.read · scan
- p. 79Hunger and shrinking bread rations show the family's poverty.read · scan
- p. 83The pearls and precious stones end the family's want.read · scan
- p. 83–84Poverty in a miserable hovel prompts her demand for a better dwelling.read · scan
- p. 143–144Her lost forests, meadows and town contrast with the hovel; poverty forces her to work and provide.read · scan
- p. 144–145Poverty forces her to work; they live on scraps and hunger threatens.read · scan
- p. 184The son's silver-axe money relieves his father from want and pays the neighbour double.read · scan
Michael Faraday, The Chemical History of a CandleVol. 30
- p. 163–165Notes the condition of the poorer classes' dwellings and their bad air.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 336Rich countries have poor men; nine-tenths of mankind still battle famine amid civilisation's prosperity.read · scan
John Henry Newman, The Idea of a UniversityVol. 28
- p. 54Athens' poor, mean housing compared to Gallipoli, contrasting material squalor with intellectual greatness.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 322Poverty and pauperism in England; booksellers' puffing sums bring bankruptcy.read · scan
- p. 472Commercial disaster and beggary in the districts, yet the feast should be kept.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 358The poor boy must return his borrowed coat and boots to the innkeeper's son.read · scan
Helen Selina, Lady Dufferin, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 919–920Poverty and hunger drive him to emigrate for bread and work.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Origin of SpeciesVol. 11
- p. 51Poor people keep few donkeys and pay little attention to breeding them, so no improvement follows.read · scan
- p. 73–74Invokes Malthus's doctrine of population outrunning food.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 277Chiloe's people are poor despite plentiful food; no demand for labour, scarce currency, so goods are bartered and tradesmen must be merchants.read · scan
- p. 280–281Land is costly to buy through surveyor fees and auctions; inhabitants are poor and bury savings in jars.read · scan
- p. 281Castro's poverty shown: no sugar, knife, watch or clock to be had; the governor lives like an English cottager.read · scan
- p. 283–284Extreme poverty: a man walks days to recover the value of a small axe and fish.read · scan
- p. 379Colonists complain of poverty yet easily obtain subsistence, chiefly from hunting tortoises.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 114Horses are cheap in California, hired for a dollar; the poor town has little business.read · scan
- p. 265Poverty and friendlessness leave Ben unprotected; he has spent his wages in the slop-chest and loses money daily.read · scan
- p. 367Poverty of masters and sailors is compared; the sailor depends on whole limbs and unbroken spirit for support.read · scan
Robert Williams Buchanan, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1199Squalid poverty: straw, broken pane, black smoke, hollow cheeks.read · scan
4b.Poverty as a spur to crime and sin
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 25–26Poverty inflames love of daring into crime; ill-treated men without love turn to crime.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 128–130Poverty overpowered him and drove him to steal.read · scan
Jean Froissart, The Chronicles of FroissartVol. 35
- p. 71Some rebels sought only riches and to rob London and destroy noblemen.read · scan
- p. 75Rebels covet the riches of London and fear others will take them first.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 100–102Armstrong has no lands or rents yet keeps eight score men, robbing the north country.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 142Poverty drives dismissed servants to theft; the wise fools think a country's wealth consists in a garrison.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 106A thief plans to steal the precious stones and gold from the shop.read · scan
- p. 107The Pope's jewels are entrusted to Cellini, and workmen worry over the thief's loot.read · scan
- p. 245–247He blesses poverty, since the poor goldsmith's theft of the diamond saved his life.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 368Robbery springs from gentlemen living beyond means and servants with inadequate wages; a thief passes as wealthy.read · scan
John Milton, Tractate on EducationVol. 3
- p. 237Poverty and hope of fees push students into mercenary trades of divinity and law.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 231Poverty and want of friends drive him to change his faith.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 257–259Inordinate desire for wealth and luxury, and high rents by the wealthy, drive poor frontiersmen into wrongs against Indians.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 115–116Poor miller promises what stands behind his mill for sudden riches from a stranger.read · scan
- p. 185Poverty drives the soldier to accept the Devil's offer of unlimited gold.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1087–1094He took the king's gold, sinned, and built a house; his parents died of want; he trades his work for coin to pay his wife's Cousin.read · scan
4c.Honest poverty and voluntary poverty
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 22Contentment in coarse rice and water; ill-gotten wealth and honours are a wandering cloud.read · scan
- p. 29Yu stands unabashed in a tattered cloak among fine robes, free of hatred and greed.read · scan
- p. 53Ploughing may end in famine; the gentleman is not pined by poverty.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 10His devotion to the god has left him in utter poverty.read · scan
- p. 19–20He never took pay for teaching; his poverty is witness.read · scan
- p. 24He was careless of wealth and offices, and being poor deserved public maintenance.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On Old AgeVol. 9
- p. 49–51Ennius bore poverty and old age so well as to be almost fond of them.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 270Evander bids Aeneas dare to be poor, as Hercules accepted humble fare.read · scan
- p. 406The poor fisherman Menoetes, who shunned palaces and war, is praised for withdrawing from the world, yet dies anyway.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 527–528Paul preached free of charge, taking support from other churches so as not to burden Corinth.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 428Peter has no silver or gold to give the beggar, but gives what he has.read · scan
Plutarch, AristidesVol. 12
- p. 78Debates whether Aristides was rich or poor, weighing evidence of office, ostracism and dramatic tripods; good men accept gifts without avarice.read · scan
- p. 78–79Poverty treated as a supposed evil from which Demetrius eagerly exempts Aristides and Socrates.read · scan
- p. 100–102Aristides taxes the allies without corruption, goes out poor and returns poorer; later demagogues raise tribute to fund largesses and spectacles.read · scan
- p. 102–103Aristides glories in poverty and refuses Callias's gifts, saying few bear poverty nobly while many use riches well or badly.read · scan
- p. 105Aristides died too poor to pay for his funeral; his descendants lived in indigence.read · scan
Tacitus, GermanyVol. 33
- p. 118–119The Fennians live in beastly poverty, without arms, horses or homes, yet count themselves happier for having no property to defend.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 223–225Argument notes examples of voluntary poverty and bounty.read · scan
- p. 225–227Fabricius praised for choosing virtue with poverty before great wealth with vice; Mary's poverty and St Nicholas's gift to the maidens.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 330–331Poverty personified as a lady whom none welcomes, wedded by Francis in defiance of his father, renouncing richesread · scan
- p. 332Poverty as Francis's bride and 'hidden riches'; followers embrace poverty as a prolific goodread · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 34Poor widow lives simply in a narrow cottage with little property and meager means.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 221They renounced riches, honours and kinsmen, poor in earthly things but rich in grace.read · scan
- p. 285–286Poverty is a benefit; God chose the poor and humble as his friends.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 103After resigning he is left with little income and plans a descending scale of frugal fare.read · scan
- p. 103Despite long royal service, More has almost no property or savings after resigning; he proposes stepping down to humbler diet, even begging.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of FriendshipVol. 32
- p. 80Poor Eudamidas bequeaths care of his mother and his daughter's dowry to rich friends.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 471–472Sancho hopes for an island and boasts he is poor but owes nothing.read · scan
Robert Greene, ContentVol. 40
- p. 282Poverty and modest estate scorn Fortune and are preferred to crowns and riches.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 862–866Wellborn says Overreach will stoop to anything to make his daughter great, and he refuses Allworth's gift of money out of pride.read · scan
- p. 872–873Wellborn, now poor, is scorned by kin and servants; he argues costly clothes are no virtues nor rags vices.read · scan
- p. 888Marrall fawns on Wellborn, hoping to profit from his expected marriage to a rich lady; Wellborn refuses to appear as a pauper in borrowed clothes.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Lords would sell God and state for private reward; Manoa prefers poverty with his son to riches.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 220–222Dorine asks why a wealthy man takes a beggar as son-in-law; Orgon says honest poverty deserves honor.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 175He loves poverty as Christ did and riches for the means of helping the very poor.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 43Egypt's diamonds cannot bribe Ventidius; he prefers honest poverty.read · scan
John Dryden, Preface to Fables, Ancient and ModernVol. 39
- p. 169–170The crone praises benefits of poverty.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Preface to ShakespeareVol. 39
- p. 230–231Shakespeare came to London a needy adventurer; his genius was not depressed by poverty.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 302–304Would share the poverty of parishioners, preferring equality that makes poverty bearable.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 308–309Woolman reports having known poverty lately and being patiently supported.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 306–307Tellheim, himself poor, must dismiss his servant and pay his wages.read · scan
- p. 325–326Tellheim styles himself a beggar and cripple, having lost his fortune and prospects.read · scan
- p. 328–329The Major has dismissed his servants, keeping only Just, showing his straitened circumstances.read · scan
William Blake, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 587–588The poor man's farthing is worth more than gold; the labourer's mite can buy the miser's land.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 126–128Fiddler offers a life of hunger and cold made light by song.read · scan
- p. 202–204Gather gear by honourable means for the privilege of independence; poor men may be honestread · scan
- p. 230–231Poverty steels the bard to independence.read · scan
- p. 386–388Matthew was poor and spurned at Fortune's door, yet worthy above the state's great.read · scan
- p. 441–443Humble poverty, above distress and below envy, preferred to the pride and idle toys of the great.read · scan
- p. 509–511Honest poverty is no shame; the rich have silks and wine but are fools and knaves.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 678–680Do not covet the cottage; the poor's modest home and flowers would lose their charm if possessed.read · scan
John Henry Newman, The Idea of a UniversityVol. 28
- p. 53Proaeresius and Hephaestion share one cloak and old bedding, showing student poverty.read · scan
4d.Poverty as shame and as a bar to love and marriage
See also: Love 4b · Family 3a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 270The wooers devour the household's possessions, and a bride-price beyond reckoning is offered.read · scan
- p. 280–281Ctesippus trusts in his vast possessions in wooing Odysseus's wife.read · scan
- p. 281Marriage to the man who gives most gifts, and the consuming of the household's goods.read · scan
Euripides, HippolytusVol. 8
- p. 331He complains a father pays a dower to send off a daughter, and the husband's wealth is wasted on her.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 20The maiden declines property, asking only marriage to the son.read · scan
- p. 382–383The Sultan sets a dowry of forty golden bowls of jewels, and despises the poor suitor whose gift he cannot match.read · scan
- p. 383The mother despairs of the demanded bowls of jewels, maids and slaves, as beyond a poor man.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 377–380She was pressured to wed under threat of losing her portion of gold, and chose Sigurd's treasureread · scan
- p. 433–436Gunnar's suit offers fifteen steads and the load of Grani.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 352–353Atli recounts the dower he paid and Gudrun's grasp for King Budli's lands.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 61–62Thomas's mother and brother urge marriage to the nut-brown bride for her gold, oxen and goods, against Fair Annet's poverty.read · scan
- p. 62–64Annet rides in silver and gold finery to face the wedding.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 8Fathers haggle over dowry; Giovanni rejects money as a motive for marriage.read · scan
- p. 97A dowry from Raffaello's estate is to be named through an intermediary.read · scan
- p. 146The dowry of three thousand ducats is seized by the prince for his own use.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 191–192The lover complains she preferred one who has more, though not worth more; Sancho counts his hardships repaid by the found gold.read · scan
- p. 243–244Her father prefers Fernando for his supposed greater advantages over Cardenio.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 221Burgundy's suit depends on dowry; Cordelia is prized by price and fallen when dowerless.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 522–523Hammon offers gold for Jane; Ralph scorns selling his wife for commodity, and Jane prefers poor husband to wealth.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 635–636Surly, penniless, proposes to the rich widow, claiming a right to her love for having preserved her honour.read · scan
- p. 662–664Lovewit gained a widow with much wealth through his servant's wit; Kastril adds five hundred pounds.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 924Margaret says title and heaped wealth mean nothing when the heart is denied what it longs for.read · scan
Love Will Find Out the Way; Phillada Flouts MeVol. 40
- p. 379–381He offers his prospective inheritance of poultry, bees and mattresses as inducement.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 330–331Those who marry for money lack marriage's true satisfaction.read · scan
Lady Grisel Baillie, Werena My Heart Licht I Wad DeeVol. 40
- p. 398–399She is rejected for lacking cow, calf and meal; poverty bars the marriage.read · scan
Alexander Ross, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 567–568Bride has nothing but borrowed bedding; father promises gear, mother recalls being poorer, brother calls her unfit for a poor man's wife.read · scan
George Halket, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 571–572She would take her poor lad rather than Sandy with oxen, house, land and silver.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 65Franklin expects a dowry to pay his debt; the family withdraws when told printing is unprofitable.read · scan
Adam Austin, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 532–533She forsook him for lack of gold, preferring a duke's empty titles to a true heart.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 248–249Kate presents herself as a poor relation keeping the keys.read · scan
- p. 257–258Sir Charles dismisses the daughter's small fortune, saying his son already has more than a competence.read · scan
- p. 264–265Kate suggests Marlow's aims are fixed on fortune; he denies fortune mattered.read · scan
- p. 266–267Kate refuses a match in which she would seem mercenary and he imprudent.read · scan
- p. 267–268Mrs. Hardcastle's mercenary concern over the niece's fortune, which passes to her if Tony refuses to marry her.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 343–344Tellheim refuses Minna's wealth; she expects him to fight for her once she seems poor.read · scan
- p. 351–352Minna fears being mocked as a rich woman who thought money could catch a noble man.read · scan
- p. 360–361Franziska says Minna's fortune is small and may be reduced by guardians; Tellheim vows to make it good.read · scan
Hector Macneil, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 577–578Marion drops young poor Johnnie for old Donald's fine house, chaise and flunkies; women would marry the devil to be kept braw.read · scan
Susanna Blamire, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 580Riches offered for consent to marry another are refused; a pure mind is dearer.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 349–350Father insists on a rich bride; the poor wife will be scorned; the merchant's fortune divided among three daughters.read · scan
- p. 383–384He doubts riches will win her, since poverty unmerited makes one proud.read · scan
- p. 403She feels the gulf between her poverty and the prosperous household, coming with only her bundle.read · scan
- p. 404She feels the distance between a poor maiden and an opulent youth, however deserving.read · scan
Lady Anne Lindsay, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 557–558Jamie goes to sea to make his crown a pound; poverty forces the marriage.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 116–118Surface's attachment is to Maria's fortune; Charles is bankrupt.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 19–21Tibbie scorns the poor suitor and favors those with 'gear'; her father's wealth makes her proud, while the poet disdains money-worship.read · scan
- p. 23–25Poverty brings scorn and no credit; lasses are valued by father's land and fortune.read · scan
- p. 25–26His poverty keeps him in awe though his pride matches the lairds' rivals; the girl's father can give dowries.read · scan
- p. 220–222Lack of money causes lost love and exile; he prefers a cot to thirst of gold.read · scan
- p. 262–264Marriage-portion and fine gown contrast with the humble lass's charm; a wife with wealth of gear is blessed.read · scan
- p. 344–345Suitor cares nothing for her father's lands and money; another bride is spoken of as bought.read · scan
- p. 346–347She prefers poverty with Tam to the laird's boasted silver.read · scan
- p. 347–349A suitor courts for money, since the penny is the jewel that beautifies all.read · scan
- p. 406–407Marriage is a bargain for silver and land; she plans to inherit his moneyread · scan
- p. 411–413Father would give her to the lad with land, but she chooses heart over propertyread · scan
- p. 415–416Suitor left for greed of silver; her tocher is the jewel that charms himread · scan
- p. 432–434Poor lass prefers love and honest earnings to hills, dales and gay attire offered by a rich suitor.read · scan
- p. 439–441The old dame urges marrying a prosperous farmer; Bessie prefers poverty with love and content, richer than queens.read · scan
- p. 445–446Her fortune and rank bar the poor wooer from hope.read · scan
- p. 455–457Meg forsakes the miller for the laird's silver; the poet curses money's power over love.read · scan
- p. 536–538The wooer offers a well-stocked farm and marriage, which the lass weighs as a fair offer.read · scan
- p. 547–549Mocking song prefers a lass with a dowry and farms to Beauty, which fades while guineas grow more caressed.read · scan
Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 563–565Mistress Jean regrets refusing the Laird and marries him, mercenary calculation in marriage.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 74The Queen disregards the girl's poverty, valuing industry over dowry.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 359–360The poor boy in wooden shoes and short jacket is ashamed of his humble dress yet goes on.read · scan
John Greenleaf Whittier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1349–1351Maud's poor state, tattered gown and rustic health versus the Judge's station.read · scan
- p. 1351–1353Maud imagines silks and charity; the Judge's pride in rank and gold shuts his heart and he marries for dower.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 374–375Willis's poem contrasts a lady cold to all but gold with a poor girl driven by Want and Scorn.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1018–1019Contrasts her father's well-gotten wealth with his own nameless poverty, feeding his resentment of her pride.read · scan
- p. 1039–1041The rich squires and 'men of many acres' at a political dinner court Maud, while the poor lover is uninvited.read · scan
4e.The wealthy's scorn and neglect of the poor
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 237–238Antinous grudges giving to beggars, while Telemachus charges him with stinginess and eating at another's expense.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 13–14Country poverty versus town luxury.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 355–356God fills the hungry and sends the rich empty away.read · scan
- p. 397Rich man in luxury ignores beggar Lazarus; reversal after death; Pharisees are lovers of money.read · scan
Plutarch, CoriolanusVol. 12
- p. 151–152The people complain of being expelled by the cruelty of the rich.read · scan
- p. 158The poor claim they are enslaved to the rich and punished by them.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 885The prophet is reproved for attending to the wealthy while neglecting the earnest poor blind man.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 171The beggar seeks a trifle of money or food but the owner gives nothing.read · scan
- p. 185The host boasts of costly slaves, musk and ambergris in imaginary delicacies.read · scan
- p. 231The porter contrasts his poverty with the merchant's house, full of luxury like a king's abode.read · scan
- p. 232The porter is astonished at the mansion's abundance of food, wine, music and servants, like Paradise or a king's palace.read · scan
Jean Froissart, The Chronicles of FroissartVol. 35
- p. 60–62Contrast of lords' luxury with commons' poverty, the lords living off the commons' labor.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 142The jester wants beggars poor from age and sickness driven from sight and put into religious houses.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 36–37Payment is compared; Porzia's proverb that the devil laughs when the poor give to the rich.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 272Dairy foods now for the poor while the wealthy eat all meats and fishread · scan
- p. 350Contrasts pampered dogs fed the best with the poor man's child who can hardly get the worst.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 7Gaveston scorns the multitude raked up in the embers of their poverty.read · scan
- p. 8–9Poor men seek service and Gaveston dismisses them, offering only false hopes.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 267–269Lear pities houseless poverty and urges the rich to share their superfluity.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 428–429Trinculo observes people will not give a coin to a beggar but pay ten to see a dead Indian.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 879Wellborn's poverty makes him shunned as a plague by his uncle and mocked by Marrall.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 268–269He fills the needy and leaves the rich empty.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 215–216The Mennonist observes that as a man of substance he would be welcomed, while a poor man would be treated no better than the slaves.read · scan
- p. 303–304Records prices and rents, and appeals that the wealthy consider the poor living on bread and water.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 509Rich man's luxury takes the space and land the poor once used; wealth is but a name leaving useful products the same.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 39–41Beggar appeals for alms on a holiday, and burgher grumbles at heavier taxes.read · scan
- p. 119–120Margaret is dazzled by jewels and laments that gold secures all things while the poor are neglected.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 140–142Stanley, a ruined merchant, is refused help by Joseph but aided by Charles despite his own poverty.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 133–134Plea that ambition and grandeur not mock the useful toil and homely joys of the poor.read · scan
- p. 206–207Poverty and want made objects of contempt by landlordsread · scan
- p. 246–248Curses the purse-proud who count poverty a disgrace, sympathizing with the poor.read · scan
- p. 248–250Pampered luxury and proud property look down on the toiling rustic who upholds their glittering show.read · scan
- p. 250–252Those in beds of down are urged to think of the wretched poor abandoned by friends and fortune.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 41Poor Renzo brings capons as customary gifts to the lawyer, who is used to such presents.read · scan
- p. 78–79Rodrigo's lavish table contrasted with famine; guests blame monopolists and bakers hiding grain.read · scan
- p. 200Starving crowd seizes bread from bakers' boys, resenting those who 'roll in abundance'.read · scan
- p. 388The tailor's wife contrasts the poor on bread of vetches with their own modest comfort on a feast day.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 64Host resolves to take no more ragamuffins who consume much and pay for nothingread · scan
Thomas Hood, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 908–910Homeless in a city full of houses, showing social indifference to poverty.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 458–459Aristocratic estates and land use contrasted with hungry unemployed; cultivating the plain is uneconomic.read · scan
- p. 465–466English principles mean regard for property; pauperism, misery and destitution of the poor contrast with wealth.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1058–1059Dives and Lazarus: the rich feast while the poor hunger at the gate, accepted as heaven's ordering.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 121Shoe mender's family starves in poverty, profit taken by shops, while the parish gives only a loaf.read · scan
- p. 122Contrasts the luxurious supper of Parisian demi-monde and nobles with a man starved to death for want of food.read · scan
- p. 122–123Contrasts the rich, whose pensions are 'playhouses', with the poor left to starve.read · scan
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