Quote by Jules Feiffer

I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor, I was needy. Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy. I was deprived. (Oh not deprived but rather underprivileged.) Then they told me that underprivileged was overused. I was disadvantaged. I still don't have a dime. But I have a great vocabulary.

I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor,

Summary

This quote satirically highlights the tendency of society to use euphemistic language to sugarcoat the realities of poverty. The speaker reflects on how their financial situation has been reframed from being "poor" to "needy," and then to "underprivileged" and "disadvantaged." Despite the shifting labels, the speaker humorously notes that their lack of wealth remains unchanged. The quote humorously underscores the ironic value placed on having a rich vocabulary compared to actual material wealth and highlights the importance society sometimes places on linguistic gymnastics instead of addressing the root issue of poverty.

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By Jules Feiffer

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