I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alms of my envy, the poor man for the alms of my guilt.

Summary

This quote highlights the underlying motivations behind people's displays of wealth or poverty. It suggests that when someone flaunts their riches, they seek envy from others, while someone showcasing their poverty seeks to elicit guilt. The author argues that both these actions are akin to begging - the wealthy person begs for admiration, and the poor person begs for sympathy. Ultimately, the quote critiques the insincerity and manipulation often associated with external displays of status or disadvantage.

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