quotations on essay poverty

52 Best Quotes About Poverty To Inspire Positive Change

Over the past few decades, the world has made great strides in the fight against poverty.

According to the World Bank, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined from nearly 1.9 billion in 1990 to roughly 650 million in 2018 . This is an incredible achievement, and it is due in large part to economic growth in developing countries.

However, there is still much work to be done.

Based on 2017 numbers from the World Bank, a little bit less than 700 million people globally were living on less than $2.15 a day, which is the new international poverty line as of fall 2022 . And while this number has declined since 1990, it is still far too high.

In the United States, the official poverty rate was 11.4 percent in 2020 . (The pre-pandemic rate, in 2019, was 10.5 percent.) The good news is that with 2020 being the exception, we've seen an annual decline in U.S. poverty rates five years in a row .) However, there are still about 37 million people living in poverty in the United States.

There are many causes of poverty , including conflict , disease, environmental degradation , and lack of access to education , food , and financial services .

But with continued effort and cooperation, it is possible to further reduce the number of people living in poverty and create a more just and equitable world for all.

In this article we've collected the best quotes from those leading the fight against poverty, working to create solutions that help support the global poor. And our hope is that after reading this article, you'll feel inspired to get involved and take action too.

Read the most powerful poverty quotes from leaders & activists leading change:

Famous quotes.

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” — Nelson Mandela

“My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice.”   — Bryan Stevenson , social justice activist

“Where you live should not determine whether you live, or whether you die.” — Bono , lead singer of U2 and founder of (RED) and ONE

“I believe in a world of justice and human rights for all. A world where girls can grow up free of fear of abuse. A world where women are treated with the respect and dignity that is their right. A world where poverty is not acceptable. My dear young friends, you can make this your world.” — Ban Ki-moon

“Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.” — Muhammad Ali

“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” — Confucius

“Surely it is impossible for us, as normal human beings, to watch children starve to death without making an effort to save them.” — Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children

“In this increasingly interconnected world, we must understand that what happens to poor people is never divorced from the actions of the powerful. Certainly, people who define themselves as poor may control their own destinies to some extent. But control of lives is related to control of land, systems of production, and the formal political and legal structures in which lives are enmeshed. With time, both wealth and control have become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. The opposite trend is desired by those working for social justice.” — Paul Farmer

Related: The best quotes about world hunger and feeding the poor

On Injustice

“Hunger is not an issue of charity. It is an issue of justice.” — Jacques Diouf

"No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise." — Marian Anderson

“I recognize that globalization has helped many people rise out of poverty, but it has also damned many others to starve to death. It is true that global wealth is growing in absolute terms, but inequalities have also grown and new poverty arisen.” — Pope Francis

“Poverty is the worst form of violence.” — Mahatma Gandhi

On Solutions

“Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn't.” — Jeff Bridges

“When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.” — Mother Teresa

“These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that’s a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone. We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer.” — Pope Francis

“This is the first generation in all of recorded history that can do something about the scourge of poverty. We have the means to do it. We can banish hunger from the face of the earth.” — Hubert Humphrey

“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.” — Ban Ki-moon

“If poverty is a disease that infects the entire community in the form of unemployment and violence, failing schools and broken homes, then we can’t just treat those symptoms in isolation. We have to heal that entire community.” — President Barack Obama

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” — Mother Teresa

“The opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is enough.” — Dr. Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International

Related: The best quotes about activism from leading activists

Related: The best quotes about homelessness

On Supporting Poor Children

“There are those who believe justice and dignity are reserved only for some people. Those who believe it should be a challenge to vote or even walk down the street. The Supreme Court has now struck down a key section of the Voting Rights Act. Young men have died in police custody. And the growing heel of poverty has worn down harder on children of color.” — Senator Elizabeth Warren

“35 million people in the U.S. are hungry or don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and 13 million of them are children. If another country were doing this to our children, we’d be at war.” — Jeff Bridges

“Child labor and poverty are inevitably bound together and if you continue to use the labor of children as the treatment for the social disease of poverty, you will have both poverty and child labor to the end of time.” — Grace Abbott

From World Leaders

“In this great country of ours, it is inexcusable that so many children grow up in poverty and despair. The well-being of our children must be the national priority and the responsibility of every individual.” — Jimmy Carter

“Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere.” — Kofi Annan

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” — Nelson Mandela

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” — John F. Kennedy

Muhammad Yunus Quotes

Muhammad Yunus is a social entrepreneur, banker, economist, and humanitarian leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in pioneering the concept of microcredit. He is also the founder of Grameen Bank, a leading microfinance institution . In addition to his work in microfinance, Yunus has been active in promoting social business ventures and corporate responsibility. He is an advocate for global poverty alleviation and has helped to develop several innovative initiatives to address poverty and social injustice. His work has helped to empower millions of people by providing them with access to financial services.

“Poverty is the absence of all human rights. The frustrations, hostility and anger generated by abject poverty cannot sustain peace in any society.” — Muhammad Yunus

“If we want to help poor people out, one way to do that is to help them explore and use their own capability. Human being is full of capacity full of capability, is a wonderful creation. But many people never get a chance to explore that, never, no that she nor he has that” — Muhammad Yunus

“If you go out into the real world, you cannot miss seeing that the poor are poor not because they are untrained or illiterate but because they cannot retain the returns of their labor. They have no control over capital, and it is the ability to control capital that gives people the power to rise out of poverty.” — Muhammad Yunus

“I believe that we can create a poverty-free world because poverty is not created by poor people. It has been created and sustained by the economic and social systems that we have designed for ourselves; the institutions and concepts that make up that system; the policies that we pursue.” — Muhammad Yunus

“People... were poor not because they were stupid or lazy. They worked all day long, doing complex physical tasks. They were poor because the financial institution in the country did not help them widen their economic base.” — Muhammad Yunus

“One day our grandchildren will go to museums to see what poverty was like.” — Muhammad Yunus

“Once poverty is gone, we’ll need to build museums to display its horrors to future generations. They’ll wonder why poverty continued so long in human society — how a few people could live in luxury while billions dwelt in misery, deprivation and despair.” — Muhammad Yunus

On Faith As Motivation to Help People Who Are Poor

“The Bible insists that the best test of a nation's righteousness is how it treats the poorest and most vulnerable in its midst.” — Jim Wallis

“There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“To me, a faith in Jesus Christ that is not aligned with the poor...it’s nothing.” — Bono , lead singer of U2 and founder of (RED) and ONE

“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.” ― Stephen Colbert

“To live with Jesus is to live with the poor. To live with the poor is to live with Jesus.” — Jean Vanier

“Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those throughout the world who live and die in poverty or hunger. Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread; and by our understanding love, give peace and joy. Amen.” — Mother Teresa

More Thoughts on Poverty

“Peace is not only the absence of war; as long as there is poverty, racism, segregation and exclusion we could hardly reach a world of peace.” — Rigoberta Menchú Tum

“Poverty is not only about income poverty, it is about the deprivation of economic and social rights, insecurity, discrimination, exclusion and powerlessness. That is why human rights must not be ignored but given even greater prominence in times of economic crisis.” — Irene Khan

“If I define my neighbor as the one I must go out to look for, on the highways and byways, in the factories and slums, on the farms and in the mines — then my world changes. This is what is happening with the 'option for the poor, for in the gospel it is the poor person who is the neighbor par excellence. But the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny. His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent. The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible. They are marginalized by our social and cultural world. They are the oppressed, exploited proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity. Hence the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief action, but a demand that we go and build a different social order.” — Gustavo Gutiérrez

“Just because a child’s parents are poor or uneducated is no reason to deprive the child of basic human rights to health care, education and proper nutrition.” — Marian Wright Edelman

“We got to face some facts. That the masses are poor, that the masses belong to what you call the lower class, and when I talk about the masses, I’m talking about the white masses, I’m talking about the black masses, and the brown masses, and the yellow masses, too. We’ve got to face the fact that some people say you fight fire best with fire, but we say you put fire out best with water. We say you don’t fight racism with racism. We’re gonna fight racism with solidarity.” — Fred Hampton

“If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather than dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.” — Barbara Bush, former First Lady

“Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.” — Aristotle, Greek philosopher

“It is a common condition of being poor… you are always afraid that the good things in your life are temporary, that someone can take them away, because you have no power beyond your own brute strength to stop them.” — Rick Bragg

“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” — Plutarch, Greek historian

‍ “History is written by the rich, and so the poor get blamed for everything.” ‍ — Jeffrey D. Sachs

“Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.” — James Baldwin

“Poverty is the worst form of violence.”

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Poverty Quotes Curator

Copied the quote:, poverty quotes + their meanings/explanations.

"Poverty Quotes" refers to a collection of insightful and thought-provoking statements that revolve around the concept of poverty. These quotes capture the harsh realities and challenges faced by individuals living in poverty, while also shedding light on the broader social and economic implications of this issue.

Often, these quotes highlight the urgent need for poverty alleviation efforts, calling for increased awareness, empathy, and action. Ultimately, "Poverty Quotes" serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing poverty and working towards a more just and equitable world.

Below are various poverty quotes with their meanings/explanations;

“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth…these are one and the same fight.”  – Ban Ki-moon

We have to do more both to save our planet and lift people out of poverty if we want to see economic growth that benefits all of us. Saving our planet requires changes in our behaviors, and lifting people out of poverty requires creating jobs and increasing incomes. But these goals are not mutually exclusive - we can advance both by working together. We know what needs to be done, and we must act now if we want to make a difference.

“If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.”  – Charles Darwin

Poverty is a persistent problem in the United States and around the world. There are many causes of poverty, but one of the most important is the way that societies choose to allocate resources. If the misery of the poor is caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”  – Unknown

There is a great hunger in the world, and it is not just for food. There is a great hunger in the world, and it is not just for love. There is a great hunger in the world, and it is not just for attention. There is a great hunger in the world, and it is not just for companionship. There is a great hunger in the world, and it is not just for security.

“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.”  –Herman Melville

The wealthy often criticize the poor for their lifestyle choices, but there are a few things the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed class forget. One of the biggest assumptions is that everyone needs the same amount of resources to survive. Another is that the well-off are better people than the poor. In reality, both groups have their bad habits and both need help.

“It is too difficult to think nobly when one thinks only of earning a living.”  – Jean Jacques Rousseau

We live in a time when the pressure to succeed is greater than ever. It is no secret that many people struggle to find ways to think nobly - to focus on things other than their own material gains. But this is not always easy, and can be incredibly challenging in a world where success is often measured by how much money we make.

“You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.” - Frank McCourt

You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace. It's full of ideas and possibilities that you can't even begin to imagine. You can do anything you want if you have the willpower and the drive. There are no limits to what you can achieve if you set your mind to it.

“Herein lies the tragedy of the age: not that men are poor, - all men know something of poverty; not that men are wicked, - who is good? not that men are ignorant, - what is Truth? Nay, but that men know so little of men.”  – W.E.B Dubois

The tragedy of the age is not that men are poor, wicked or ignorant, but that they know so little of each other. In this age of global interconnectedness, we have the power to connect with anyone on the planet through technology, yet we remain isolated from one another. We can see and experience the beauty of nature, but we often ignore our fellow humans. We can learn about different cultures and religions, but we seldom understand why people believe in them.

“But even though he had always been poor, he was a happy man and rarely shed a tear.”  –Khaled Hosseini

Although he had always been poor, was a happy man and rarely shed a tear. His contentment came from his close-knit family, his strong faith, and his love for the simple things in life. When tragedy struck, he was able to draw on these strengths to overcome the challenge.

“Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.”  – Woody Allen

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. Poverty can lead to a lack of food, shelter, and health care. Money can help provide all of those things. In addition, money can help people afford education, medication, and other basic needs. Poverty also affects mental health and can lead to crime. All of these problems are more common in poor communities than in rich ones.

“In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance.”  – George Orwell

A hierarchical society was only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. The first step in creating this society was to keep the people poor by limiting their access to resources. Then, the ruling class could control the population by controlling their information. Finally, the government enforced strict rules so that everyone would know their place. Today, this type of society is no longer possible because of our technological advancements.

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” -John F. Kennedy

In a free society, the government is responsible for ensuring that all citizens have access to basic necessities like food and shelter. However, in societies where poverty is rampant, the government cannot provide these necessities for everyone. This leaves those who are poor with few options other than begging or stealing. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

“Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere.”  – Kofi Annan

Extreme poverty anywhere threatens human security everywhere. It undermines the ability of people to meet their basic needs, and can lead to violence, crime and social unrest. In some cases, extreme poverty can also create a breeding ground for terrorism.

“The ever more sophisticated weapons piling up in the arsenals of the wealthiest and the mightiest can kill the illiterate, the ill, the poor and the hungry, but they cannot kill ignorance, illness, poverty or hunger.”  – Fidel Castro

In a world where the wealthiest and the mightiest have access to ever more sophisticated weapons, it is not surprising that ignorance, illness, poverty and hunger are still a problem. Weapons cannot kill these things, but they can kill people. Governments and organizations must work to ensure that all people have access to education, health care and food to ensure their survival.

“Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.”  – Artistotle

Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. It breeds discontent, a desire for change, and a need for recognition. Poverty creates desperation that can lead to violence, as well as other criminal activity in an attempt to survive. It places a tremendous financial burden on families, limiting their ability to provide for their children, and furthering the cycle of poverty.

“Whatever possessions and objects of its desires the lower self may obtain, it hangs on to them, refusing to let them go out of greed for more, or out of fear of poverty and need.”  – Rumi

Whatever possessions and objects of its desires the lower self may obtain, it hangs on to them, refusing to let them go out of greed for more, or out of fear of poverty and need. The lower self is always seeking something more, whether that is material things or positive experiences. It is important to remember that these things will not make us happy, and in fact can often lead to suffering.

“An educated man can put up with enforced idleness, which is one of the worst evils of poverty.”  – George Orwell

Poverty is one of the worst evils of enforced idleness. It ruins people's health, ruins their minds, and takes away their dignity. The poor are especially prone to this form of exploitation because they are not able to find a job that pays enough to live on. The government should do everything it can to end poverty and make sure that everyone has a decent job.

“Why should I marry a wife when I am a pauper and a beggar? I would rather bear the burden of poverty alone and not load myself with misery and want.”  – Martin Luther

There are many reasons why a man might choose to marry instead of becoming a pauper and beggar. Often, men find companionship and emotional support in marriage. Additionally, wives often provide financial stability, as well as childrearing and other domestic duties. Finally, many men find that married life offers its own set of opportunities for growth and fulfillment. If any of these reasons resonate with you, then it may be worth considering marriage over poverty.

“A simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with-that’s poverty-but how efficiently we can put first things first.”  – Victoria Moran

Poverty is not seeing how little we can get by with, but how efficiently we can put first things first. Living a simple life does not mean living without conveniences, but it does require making choices that allow us to focus on our priorities. These priorities should include things like living in a healthy environment, having enough food and water, and conserving energy. It also means being able to work hard and be proud of what we have accomplished, even when our circumstances are challenging.

“Childhood, after all, is the first precious coin that poverty steals from a child.”  – Anthony Horowitz

Childhood is the first precious coin that poverty steals from a child. Childhood is the time when a child should be enjoying life, but instead, they are burdened with worries about where their next meal will come from. In America, one in five children live in poverty and over half of all children who are living in poverty are living in families with an adult who is still working full-time. Poverty takes a toll on a child's development and can have long-term consequences.

“Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn’t.”  – Jeff Bridges

Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn't. A child in poverty has the same needs as any other child - food, shelter, and love. In America, one in five children lives in poverty. The problem is even more complicated when you consider that there are different levels of poverty.

“Around the world, poverty and social background remain huge barriers in scientific careers.”  – Jane J. Lee

Poverty and social background remain huge barriers to scientific careers.

“The mass of the rich and the poor are differentiated by their incomes and nothing else, and the average millionaire is only the average dishwasher dressed in a new suit.”  – George Orwell

The average millionaire is only the average dishwasher dressed in a new suit. The rich and poor are differentiated by their incomes and nothing else. The masses of the rich and the poor are differentiated by their incomes, not their lifestyles. The average millionaire is only the average dishwasher dressed in a new suit because he or she has a high income. If someone has a low income, they may still be considered wealthy if they have a large enough net worth.

“When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.”  – Mother Teresa

Hunger is a reality for millions of people around the world. It causes physical and mental anguish, and can lead to death. But it is not the result of God not taking care of someone. It is the result of human decisions - ours - to do nothing about it.

“Agricultural research has greatly increased the yields of important staple food crops, and for many people this has meant more food availability and trade opportunities. Yet many people in rural areas in developing countries still live in abject poverty.”  – Michelle Adato

Agricultural research has greatly increased the yields of important staple food crops, and for many people this has meant more food availability and trade opportunities. Yet many people in rural areas in developing countries still live in abject poverty. Agricultural research can also be very polluting, and it often results in the loss of land and biodiversity. It is important to consider the impact of agricultural research on both the poor people who live in rural areas and the environment before making decisions about it.

“For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; and when once they had done this, they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away.”  – George Orwell

The average person in the world is usually too poor to afford leisure or security, but if everyone could enjoy them, they would be able to think for themselves and overthrow the privileged minority. This is because people are only able to think for themselves when they are not struggling financially. When people are able to take care of themselves, they can focus on their own lives and have more time to think.

“If you’re in trouble, or hurt or need – go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help – the only ones.” - John Steinback

If you find yourself in trouble, or need help, there is only one place to turn: the poor people. These are the only ones who will help you, and they are the only ones who can truly help you. There are many reasons why people turn to the poor for aid, but the most common is that they simply cannot afford to pay for professional help.

“Americans are blessed with great plenty; we are a generous people and we have a moral obligation to assist those who are suffering from poverty, disease, war and famine.”  – Adam Schiff

Americans are blessed with great plenty; we are a generous people and we have a moral obligation to assist those who are suffering from poverty, disease, war and famine. Despite this, millions of people around the world still suffer from these conditions. In order to help alleviate this global crisis, Americans should be willing to make personal sacrifices and take collective action.

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”  – Mahatma Gandhi

Hunger is a feeling that most of us can relate to. It is a gnawing sensation in the stomach that can make you feel anxious and irritable. For some, it can be a daily struggle to get enough to eat. Hunger is an epidemic in the world, and it is affecting more people than ever before. In developing countries, hunger is a major problem. One in nine people are chronically hungry, which means that they do not have enough to eat every day.

“It [prison] is a cruel and useless substitute for the elimination of those conditions–poverty, unemployment, homelessness, desperation, racism, greed–which are at the root of most punished crime.” - Howard Zinn

The use of prisons as a form of punishment has been questioned for many years. Many believe that it is a cruel and useless substitute for the elimination of those conditions poverty, unemployment, homelessness, desperation, racism, and greed which are at the root of most punished crime. There are many ways to reduce crime without resorting to imprisonment.

“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”  – Nelson Mandela

No one should ever have to live in poverty, feel injustice, or endure gross inequality. Unfortunately, these are still realities in many parts of the world. This is unacceptable and must change. We must work together to make sure that no one is left behind. We can do this, and we must do it now.

“If you’re poor, you may not know anyone who works in STEM.”  – Shirley Malcolm

If you are poor, chances are you don't have many people in your life who work in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Even if you do have someone in your family who is a scientist or engineer, they may not be able to share their experiences with you. This lack of exposure can result in a lack of understanding about the importance of these fields, which can keep people from pursuing STEM careers.

“The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.”  – Basil the Great

There is one thing we can all agree on, and that is that the things in our homes don't belong to us. They belong to the people who need them, the ones who are hungry or in need of a coat. When we hoard things, we're not only denying others a chance to have what we have, but we're also denying ourselves an opportunity to help others. It's time we started thinking about our belongings in this way and started giving our stuff away.

“To me, a faith in Jesus Christ that is not aligned with the poor…it’s nothing.”  – Bono

There is nothing more frustrating than someone who claims to have faith in Jesus Christ but does not live their life according to the teachings of Jesus. A faith that is not aligned with the poor is nothing more than a show. When we claim to have faith in Jesus Christ, we should put our actions where our words are. We should live our lives in a manner that reflects the love and compassion that Jesus would have us show to others.

“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.”  –Plutarch

The imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics. It leads to unrest, which in turn creates more poverty and inequality. It also breeds corruption, which undermines the legitimacy of government and weakens the economy. All these problems can ultimately undermine democracy. To prevent this from happening, governments must take steps to reduce inequality and increase social mobility.

“Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit.”  – Eli Khamarov

Poverty is like a punishment for a crime you didn't commit. It's not something that you deserve and it doesn't make you a bad person, but it's something that happens to you anyway. Poverty can be really hard to deal with, but it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong, and there's nothing you can do to change the situation that you're in.

“Last night my teacher taught me a lesson on poverty. Having nothing and wanting nothing.”  – Rumi

Poverty is often seen as a dire situation where people must endure difficult circumstances in order to survive. In reality, poverty is something that can be overcome with the right attitude and some hard work.

“Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.”  – Muhammad Ali

Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change. Wars of poverty are fought to end poverty, inequality and injustice. Wars of poverty are fought to improve the quality of life for all people. Wars of poverty are fought to build strong, sustainable communities that can withstand challenges and crises.

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.”  – Nelson Mandela

Poverty is not a natural condition. It is the result of decisions made by society and its leaders. Too often, poverty is seen as a problem that people in poverty must solve themselves. This is not true. Poverty is a human rights violation. It means that people are living in conditions that cannot meet their basic needs. To end poverty, we need to change the way that society works. We need to protect human rights, including the right to dignity and a decent life.

“The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty - it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality.”  – Mother Teresa

The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty. It is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There are many people living in poverty in the West who are living without hope and without a sense of purpose. These are people who have lost their way and who have become disillusioned with life. Many of these people are living on the margins of society and they are struggling to make ends meet.

“It is also in the interests of the tyrant to make his subjects poor… the people are so occupied with the daily tasks that they have no time for plotting.”“It is also in the interests of the tyrant to make his subjects poor… the people are so occupied with their daily tasks that they have no time for plotting.”  – Unknown

The interests of a tyrant often coincide with those of an oligarchy, as both groups seek to keep the people busy and distracted. To this end, the tyrant must make sure that his subjects are poor, so they have no time to organize and rebel. This is why many dictatorships focus on economic policies that decrease the quality of life for the majority.

“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”  – Confucius

Poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a well-governed country, poverty is not something that exists. Wealth, on the other hand, is something to be ashamed of. In poorly governed countries, the opposite is true. Poverty is rampant and there is a great divide between the wealthy and the poor. This is due in part to the lack of effective government which allows for corruption and inequality to thrive.

“The wealth of a soul is measured by how much it can feel… its poverty by how little.”  –Sherrilyn Kenyon

The wealth of a soul is measured by how much it can feel its poverty by how little it cares. A life spent in service to others is the only true measure of wealth. When we are consumed with serving others, we remove ourselves from the clutches of materialism and its traps. This gives us a greater perspective on life and allows us to appreciate the simple things in life.

“Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but Allah. Poverty unlocks the door – what a blessed key!”  – Rumi

There are many misconceptions about poverty. People think that it is only something that happens to the poor, or to people in developing countries. But poverty is not just a condition of those who cannot afford to have a better life. Poverty is also a choice many people make. It is there because they believe that Allah is the only thing that matters in life.

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”  – Dwight Eisenhower

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. It is not enough for us to say we are going to make sure that everyone has food. We must make sure that everyone has food and clothing. We must make sure that everyone has shelter.

“It takes nothing to stay in poverty, but everything to break free from it.”  – Idowu Koyenikan

Poverty is a state of being in which one does not have enough money or possessions to live comfortably. It can be caused by a number of things, including unemployment, low wages, lack of education, and serious health problems. Poverty can also be a result of poor choices or bad luck. It takes little effort to remain in poverty, but it takes everything to escape it.

“Where people are really attached, poverty itself is wealth.”  – Jane Austin

The idea that poverty is wealth has been around for centuries. Some believe this to be true because it is a reminder that those with little have to work harder than those who have more. This is especially true in developing countries where people are often forced to work long hours for little pay. This type of work is often seen as a sign of strength and character. In these countries, it can be difficult to escape poverty, but it is also incredibly rewarding.

“Why should some be miserably poor, so that others can be hugely rich? I speak on behalf of the children in the world who do not have a piece of bread. I speak on behalf of the sick who have no medicine, of those whose rights to life and human dignity have been denied.”  –Fidel Castro

The world is a place where some are miserably poor, so that others can be hugely rich. This is often done without regard for the well-being of those who are being sacrificed. The argument for this system is that it benefits the majority of people. Those who are miserably poor are able to afford to work for those who are enormously rich, and in return they receive little in return. This system has been in place for many years, and it has never been questioned.

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”  – Franklin D. Roosevelt

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. Too often, in America, that equation fails. Too often, we are content to let people languish in poverty or to see them burdened with debt they can never repay. We must do better.

“Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless?  –Charlotte Bronte

“Poverty is the worst form of violence.”  – Mahatma Gandhi

Poverty is the worst form of violence. It creates a cycle of poverty, which perpetuates social and economic inequality. Inequality leads to poverty, which in turn leads to increased violence. Poverty causes health problems and can lead to crime, all of which have devastating effects on society as a whole.

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100+ Uplifting Poverty Quotes: Lessons In Resilience

In the tapestry of human existence, few experiences resonate as universally as the struggle against poverty. It is a challenge that transcends borders, cultures, and generations, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of millions.

Yet, amid the hardships, there exists a wellspring of wisdom, empathy, and resilience encapsulated in the words of visionaries, thinkers, and advocates. These inspirational poverty quotes serve as beacons of hope, thought-provoking reminders, and calls to action.

In this collection, we delve into a treasure trove of timeless poverty sayings that illuminate the human spirit’s strength in adversity. From renowned figures to unsung heroes, these voices have lent power to the plight of the impoverished, weaving narratives of compassion, justice, and the unwavering belief in a brighter future.

As we navigate the complex terrain of socioeconomic disparities, these thought-provoking quotes and sayings about poverty offer a profound perspective on the human condition.

They challenge us to confront the uncomfortable truths, igniting conversations that lead to meaningful change. Through the power of words, we can dismantle stereotypes, dismantle barriers, and build a more inclusive, empathetic world.

Join us on this journey as we explore some of the most poignant, insightful, and deeply resonant expressions of the human experience.

Let these inspirational poverty quotes serve as a catalyst for understanding, empathy, and, most importantly, action. Together, we can forge a path towards a more equitable and compassionate society, one quote at a time.

Here are some powerful poverty quotes along with their attributed authors:

100+ Uplifting Poverty Quotes

• Nelson Mandela
• Abraham Lincoln
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Simone Weil
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Mother Teresa
• Bryan Stevenson

These quotes offer a diverse range of perspectives on poverty, reflecting the deep impact it has on individuals and societies across time and cultures. They remind us of the importance of empathy, justice, and action in addressing this pressing global issue.

Here are some additional thought-provoking quotes and sayings about poverty:

• Cassandra Duffy
• Chuck Palahniuk
• Max De Pree
• John Holmes
• Dr. Paul Farmer
• Cesar Chavez
• Bishop Desmond Tutu
• Coco Chanel
• Indira Gandhi

These quotes continue to shed light on the complexities of poverty, urging us to reflect on our responsibilities towards creating a more just and equitable society. They emphasize the importance of empathy, compassion, and collective action in alleviating the hardships faced by those affected by poverty.

Here are more thought-provoking quotes and sayings about poverty:

• Immanuel Kant
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Albert Einstein
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Audre Lorde
• Albert Schweitzer

These quotes serve as poignant reminders of our shared humanity and the collective responsibility we bear towards creating a more inclusive and compassionate world, where no one is left behind in the fight against poverty.

• P. J. O’Rourke
• Raoul Wallenberg
• Charles Spurgeon
• J.R.R. Tolkien
• W. C. Fields
• Willem de Kooning
• Napoleon Hill

These quotes reflect a wide range of perspectives on poverty, wealth, and the human condition. They invite us to consider the complexities of economic disparities and the ways in which we can work towards a more just and equitable society.

• Milton Berle
• John F. Kennedy
• George Bernard Shaw
• Maya Angelou
• Muhammad Yunus

These quotes offer diverse perspectives on poverty, wealth, and the human experience. They challenge us to reflect on our values, priorities, and the ways in which we can work together to create a more just and inclusive society.

• Robert M. Hensel
• William Wilberforce
• Nelson Henderson
• Henrik Ibsen
• Henry C. Link

These quotes encourage us to reflect on our roles in creating a more compassionate and just world, where the needs of the marginalized and impoverished are not overlooked. They emphasize the power of community, empathy, and individual actions in making a positive impact.

• Winston Churchill
• Woodrow Wilson
• Robert Ingersoll

These quotes continue to emphasize the importance of compassion, service, and making a positive impact in the lives of others. They inspire us to be mindful of our actions and to contribute to the betterment of the world around us.

• Oscar Wilde
• John Bunyan
• Desmond Tutu
• Albert Pine
• Steve Maraboli
• Winston S. Churchill

These quotes remind us of the power we hold to make a positive impact on the world through our actions, no matter how small they may seem. They inspire us to lead lives of compassion, purpose, and service to others.

• Charles Dickens
• Will Rogers
• Jane Goodall
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Norman Vincent Peale
• Peter Drucker

These quotes encourage us to reflect on our abilities, purpose, and capacity to make a positive impact on the world around us. They inspire us to approach life’s challenges with resilience, compassion, and a determination to create positive change.

• Edmund Burke
• Frank Sinatra
• John Lennon
• Robert Frost
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Muhammad Ali
• Chinese Proverb

These quotes touch on various aspects of life, from perseverance and determination to the importance of action and belief in oneself. They encourage us to take charge of our destinies and embrace the opportunities that come our way.

• Mark Zuckerberg
• Charles R. Swindoll
• Dalai Lama XIV
• Jordan Belfort
• Walt Disney

These quotes inspire us to take action, overcome challenges, and embrace change in order to achieve our goals and live fulfilling lives. They remind us that we have the power to shape our own destinies through our actions and beliefs.

• Wayne Gretzky
• Sam Levenson
• Colin R. Davis

These quotes encourage us to take action, embrace change, and believe in our own potential for success and happiness. They remind us that we have the power to shape our own destinies through our actions and beliefs.

• Senegalese Proverb
• Oprah Winfrey

These quotes reflect various perspectives on poverty, empathy, and the importance of making a positive impact in the lives of others. They inspire us to be compassionate and take action towards creating a more just and equitable world.

• Paulo Coelho
• Charles Darwin
• Alphonse Karr

These quotes remind us of the power of empathy, the importance of taking action, and the value of love and compassion in addressing issues related to poverty and inequality.

These quotes continue to inspire us to be compassionate, take action, and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society. They emphasize the importance of empathy, service, and the value of every individual.

These quotes remind us of the power of action, resilience, and the potential for positive change. They encourage us to take initiative, believe in ourselves, and strive for a better future.

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10 Quotes on Poverty

“Poverty is relatively cheap to address and incredibly expensive to ignore.” – Clint Borgen, President of The Borgen Project

In June of 1998, all heads of the U.N. agencies signed a statement defining the term “poverty.” The statement read,“Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity…It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to…It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living on marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.”

After the World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the U.N. recognized the need to reduce “overall” poverty , as 117 member-states adopted a declaration and program of action dedicated to this cause.

What is significant about this concept of overall poverty is the idea that the U.N. considers it present in all countries, whether it exists as “mass poverty in many developing countries,” “pockets of poverty amid wealth in developed countries” or “the utter destitution of people who fall outside of family support systems, social institutions and safety nets.

Poverty has made itself a presence in everyone’s lives, whether it is in the form of a classmate, colleague, a friend in the neighborhood or a friend in a neighboring country. Below are several  quotes on poverty from past and present prominent leaders , defining what poverty looks like to them.

Best Poverty Quotes

• “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” — Mother Teresa, Missionary and Saint.
• “These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that’s a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone. We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer.” — Pope Francis, current Head of the Catholic Church.
• “Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.” — Muhammad Ali, Professional Boxer.
• “People…were poor not because they were stupid or lazy. They worked all day long, doing complex physical tasks. They were poor because the financial institution in the country did not help them widen their economic base.” — Muhammad Yunus, Author of “Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle against World Poverty.”
• “Where you live should not determine whether you live, or whether you die.” — Bono , Singer and Philanthropist.
• “If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather than dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.” — Barbara Bush, former First Lady of the U.S.
• “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” — Nelson Mandela , former President of South Africa.
• “Just because a child’s parents are poor or uneducated is no reason to deprive the child of basic human rights to health care, education and proper nutrition.” — Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund.
• “If poverty is a disease that infects the entire community in the form of unemployment and violence, failing schools and broken homes, then we can’t just treat those symptoms in isolation. We have to heal that entire community.” — President Barack Obama, 44th and current President of the U.S.
• “Poverty is not only about income poverty, it is about the deprivation of economic and social rights, insecurity, discrimination, exclusion and powerlessness. That is why human rights must not be ignored but given even greater prominence in times of economic crisis.” — Irene Khan, former Secretary-General of Amnesty International, 2010.

– Blythe Riggan

Sources: BBC, Brainy Quote 1, Brainy Quote 2, Goodreads, OHCHR, Standford, The Book of the Poor Photo: Bio

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Poverty Quotes

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Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.

Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life . . .

The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens.

The inevitable consequence of poverty is dependence.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.

Poverty is less a matter of income than of prospects. While the incomes of the poor have steadily risen through Great Society largesse, their prospects have plummeted as families have broken into dependent fragments.

You, who are ashamed of your poverty, and blush for your calling, are a snob; as are you who boast of your wealth.

Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of many people to conceal their neediness from others. Consequently they support themselves by temporary means, and everyday is lost in contriving for tomorrow.

Affluence creates poverty.

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.

Come away; poverty's catching.

Poverty is the step-mother of genius.

Whether our task is fighting poverty, stemming the spread of disease or saving innocent lives from mass murder, we have seen that we cannot succeed without the leadership of the strong and the engagement of all.

Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.

Whatever may be said in praise of poverty, the fact remains that it is not possible to live a really complete or successful life unless one is rich.

A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.

Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.

Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice... Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.

Morality and religion are but words to him who fishes in gutters for the means of sustaining life, and crouches behind barrels in the street for shelter from the cutting blasts of a winter night.

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

He is not poor who has the use of necessary things. [Lat., Pauper enim non est cui rerum suppetet usus.]

Poverty, when it is voluntary, is never despicable, but takes an heroical aspect.

As society advances the standard of poverty rises.

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Poverty quotes by:

• Muhammad Yunus Entrepreneur
• Samuel Johnson Writer
• Juvenal Poet
• Mother Teresa Saint
• Nelson Mandela Former President of South Africa
• Pope Francis
• Mahatma Gandhi Civil rights leader
• George Bernard Shaw Playwright
• Benjamin Franklin Founding Father of the United States
• Henry David Thoreau Author
• Kofi Annan Diplomat
• Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th U.S. President
• Jeffrey Sachs Economist
• Oscar Wilde Writer
• Marco Rubio United States Senator
• William Shakespeare Poet
• Ralph Waldo Emerson Essayist
• Christian Nestell Bovee
• John F. Kennedy 35th U.S. President
• John Dryden Poet

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7 Essays About Poverty: Example Essays and Prompts

Essays about poverty give valuable insight into the economic situation that we share globally. Read our guide with poverty essay examples and prompts for your paper.

In the US, the official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5 percent, with 37.9 million people living below the poverty line. With a global pandemic, cost of living crisis, and climate change on the rise, we’ve seen poverty increase due to various factors. As many of us face adversity daily, we can look to essays about poverty from some of the world’s greatest speakers for inspiration and guidance.

There is nothing but a lack of social vision to prevent us from paying an adequate wage to every American citizen whether he be a hospital worker, laundry worker, maid or day laborer. There is nothing except shortsightedness to prevent us from guaranteeing an annual minimum—and livable—income for every American family. Martin Luther King Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?

Writing a poverty essay can be challenging due to the many factors contributing to poverty and the knock-on effects of living below the poverty line . For example, homelessness among low-income individuals stems from many different causes.

It’s important to note that poverty exists beyond the US, with many developing countries living in extreme poverty without access to essentials like clean water and housing. For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

Essays About Poverty: Top Examples

1. pensioner poverty: fear of rise over decades as uk under-40s wealth falls, 2. the surprising poverty levels across the u.s., 3. why poverty persists in america, 4. post-pandemic poverty is rising in america’s suburbs.

• 5. The Basic Facts About Children in Poverty
• 6. The State of America’s Children 
• 7. COVID-19: This is how many Americans now live below the poverty line

10 Poverty Essay Topics

1. the causes of poverty, 2. the negative effects of poverty, 3. how countries can reduce poverty rates, 4. the basic necessities and poverty, 5. how disabilities can lead to poverty, 6. how the cycle of poverty unfolds , 7. universal basic income and its relationship to poverty, 8. interview someone who has experience living in poverty, 9. the impact of the criminal justice system on poverty, 10. the different ways to create affordable housing.

There is growing concern about increasing pensioner poverty in the UK in the coming decades. Due to financial challenges like the cost of living crisis, rent increases, and the COVID-19 pandemic, under 40s have seen their finances shrink.

Osborne discusses the housing wealth gap in this article, where many under the 40s currently pay less in a pension due to rent prices. While this means they will have less pension available, they will also retire without owning a home, resulting in less personal wealth than previous generations. Osborne delves into the causes and gaps in wealth between generations in this in-depth essay.

“Those under-40s have already been identified as  facing the biggest hit from rising mortgage rates , and last week a study by the financial advice firm Hargreaves Lansdown found that almost a third of 18- to 34-year-olds had stopped or cut back on their pension contributions in order to save money.” Hilary Osborne,  The Guardian

In this 2023 essay, Jeremy Ney looks at the poverty levels across the US, stating that poverty has had the largest one-year increase in history. According to the most recent census, child poverty has more than doubled from 2021 to 2022.

Ney states that the expiration of government support and inflation has created new financial challenges for US families. With the increased cost of living and essential items like food and housing sharply increasing, more and more families have fallen below the poverty line. Throughout this essay, Ney displays statistics and data showing the wealth changes across states, ethnic groups, and households.

“Poverty in America reflects the inequality that plagues U.S. households. While certain regions have endured this pain much more than others, this new rising trend may spell ongoing challenges for even more communities.” Jeremy Ney,  TIME

In this New York Times article, a Pulitzer Prize-winning sociologist explores why poverty exists in North America.

The American poor have access to cheap, mass-produced goods, as every American does. But that doesn’t mean they can access what matters most. Matthew Desmond,  The New York Times

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its annual data on poverty, revealing contrasting trends for 2022. While one set of findings indicated that the overall number of Americans living in poverty remained stable compared to the previous two years, another survey highlighted a concerning increase in child poverty. The rate of child poverty in the U.S. doubled from 2021 to 2022, a spike attributed mainly to the cessation of the expanded child tax credit following the pandemic. These varied outcomes underscore the Census Bureau’s multifaceted methods to measure poverty.

“The nation’s suburbs accounted for the majority of increases in the poor population following the onset of the pandemic” Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube,  Brookings

5.  The Basic Facts About Children in Poverty

Nearly 11 million children are living in poverty in America. This essay explores ow the crisis reached this point—and what steps must be taken to solve it.

“In America, nearly 11 million children are poor. That’s 1 in 7 kids, who make up almost one-third of all people living in poverty in this country.” Areeba Haider,  Center for American Progress

6.  The State of America’s Children  

This essay articles how, despite advancements, children continue to be the most impoverished demographic in the U.S., with particular subgroups — such as children of color, those under five, offspring of single mothers, and children residing in the South — facing the most severe poverty levels.

“Growing up in poverty has wide-ranging, sometimes lifelong, effects on children, putting them at a much higher risk of experiencing behavioral, social, emotional, and health challenges. Childhood poverty also plays an instrumental role in impairing a child’s ability and capacity to learn, build skills, and succeed academically.” Children’s Defense Fund

7.  COVID-19: This is how many Americans now live below the poverty line

This essay explores how the economic repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic 2020 led to a surge in U.S. poverty rates, with unemployment figures reaching unprecedented heights. The writer provides data confirming that individuals at the lowest economic strata bore the brunt of these challenges, indicating that the recession might have exacerbated income disparities, further widening the chasm between the affluent and the underprivileged.

“Poverty in the U.S. increased in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hammered the economy and unemployment soared. Those at the bottom of the economic ladder were hit hardest, new figures confirm, suggesting that the recession may have widened the gap between the rich and the poor.” Elena Delavega,  World Econmic Forum

If you’re tasked with writing an essay about poverty, consider using the below topics. They offer pointers for outlining and planning an essay about this challenging topic.

One of the most specific poverty essay topics to address involves the causes of poverty. You can craft an essay to examine the most common causes of extreme poverty. Here are a few topics you might want to include:

• Racial discrimination, particularly among African Americans, has been a common cause of poverty throughout American history. Discrimination and racism can make it hard for people to get the education they need, making it nearly impossible to get a job.
• A lack of access to adequate health care can also lead to poverty. When people do not have access to healthcare, they are more likely to get sick. This could make it hard for them to go to work while also leading to major medical bills.
• Inadequate food and water can lead to poverty as well. If people’s basic needs aren’t met, they focus on finding food and water instead of getting an education they can use to find a better job.

These are just a few of the most common causes of poverty you might want to highlight in your essay. These topics could help people see why some people are more likely to become impoverished than others. You might also be interested in these essays about poverty .

Poverty affects everyone, and the impacts of an impoverished lifestyle are very real. Furthermore, the disparities when comparing adult poverty to child poverty are also significant. This opens the doors to multiple possible essay topics. Here are a few points to include:

• When children live in poverty, their development is stunted. For example, they might not be able to get to school on time due to a lack of transportation, making it hard for them to keep up with their peers. Child poverty also leads to malnutrition, which can stunt their development.
• Poverty can impact familial relationships as well. For example, members of the same family could fight for limited resources, making it hard for family members to bond. In addition, malnutrition can stunt the growth of children.
• As a side effect of poverty, people have difficulty finding a safe place to live. This creates a challenging environment for everyone involved, and it is even harder for children to grow and develop.
• When poverty leads to homelessness, it is hard for someone to get a job. They don’t have an address to use for physical communication, which leads to employment concerns.

These are just a few of the many side effects of poverty. Of course, these impacts are felt by people across the board, but it is not unusual for children to feel the effects of poverty that much more. You might also be interested in these essays about unemployment .

Different countries take different approaches to reduce the number of people living in poverty

The issue of poverty is a major human rights concern, and many countries explore poverty reduction strategies to improve people’s quality of life. You might want to examine different strategies that different countries are taking while also suggesting how some countries can do more. A few ways to write this essay include:

• Explore the poverty level in America, comparing it to the poverty level of a European country. Then, explore why different countries take different strategies.
• Compare the minimum wage in one state, such as New York, to the minimum wage in another state, such as Alabama. Why is it higher in one state? What does raising the minimum wage do to the cost of living?
• Highlight a few advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations actively lobbying their governments to do more for low-income families. Then, talk about why some efforts are more successful than others.

Different countries take different approaches to reduce the number of people living in poverty. Poverty within each country is such a broad topic that you could write a different essay on how poverty could be decreased within the country. For more, check out our list of simple essays topics for intermediate writers .

You could also write an essay on the necessities people need to survive. You could take a look at information published by the United Nations , which focuses on getting people out of the cycle of poverty across the globe. The social problem of poverty can be addressed by giving people the necessities they need to survive, particularly in rural areas. Here are some of the areas you might want to include:

• Affordable housing
• Fresh, healthy food and clean water
• Access to an affordable education
• Access to affordable healthcare

Giving everyone these necessities could significantly improve their well-being and get people out of absolute poverty. You might even want to talk about whether these necessities vary depending on where someone is living.

There are a lot of medical and social issues that contribute to poverty, and you could write about how disabilities contribute to poverty. This is one of the most important essay topics because people could be disabled through no fault of their own. Some of the issues you might want to address in this essay include:

• Talk about the road someone faces if they become disabled while serving overseas. What is it like for people to apply for benefits through the Veterans’ Administration?
• Discuss what happens if someone becomes disabled while at work. What is it like for someone to pursue disability benefits if they are hurt doing a blue-collar job instead of a desk job?
• Research and discuss the experiences of disabled people and how their disability impacts their financial situation.

People who are disabled need to have money to survive for many reasons, such as the inability to work, limitations at home, and medical expenses. A lack of money, in this situation, can lead to a dangerous cycle that can make it hard for someone to be financially stable and live a comfortable lifestyle.

Many people talk about the cycle of poverty, yet many aren’t entirely sure what this means or what it entails. A few key points you should address in this essay include:

• When someone is born into poverty, income inequality can make it hard to get an education.
• A lack of education makes it hard for someone to get into a good school, which gives them the foundation they need to compete for a good job. 
• A lack of money can make it hard for someone to afford college, even if they get into a good school.
• Without attending a good college, it can be hard for someone to get a good job. This makes it hard for someone to support themselves or their families. 
• Without a good paycheck, it is nearly impossible for someone to keep their children out of poverty, limiting upward mobility into the middle class.

The problem of poverty is a positive feedback loop. It can be nearly impossible for those who live this every day to escape. Therefore, you might want to explore a few initiatives that could break the cycle of world poverty and explore other measures that could break this feedback loop.

Many business people and politicians have floated the idea of a universal basic income to give people the basic resources they need to survive. While this hasn’t gotten a lot of serious traction, you could write an essay to shed light on this idea. A few points to hit on include:

• What does a universal basic income mean, and how is it distributed?
• Some people are concerned about the impact this would have on taxes. How would this be paid for?
• What is the minimum amount of money someone would need to stay out of poverty? Is it different in different areas?
• What are a few of the biggest reasons major world governments haven’t passed this?

This is one of the best essay examples because it gives you a lot of room to be creative. However, there hasn’t been a concrete structure for implementing this plan, so you might want to afford one.

Another interesting topic you might want to explore is interviewing someone living in poverty or who has been impoverished. While you can talk about statistics all day, they won’t be as powerful as interviewing someone who has lived that life. A few questions you might want to ask during your interview include:

• What was it like growing up?
• How has living in poverty made it hard for you to get a job?
• What do you feel people misunderstand about those who live in poverty?
• When you need to find a meal, do you have a place you go to? Or is it somewhere different every day?
• What do you think is the main contributor to people living in poverty?

Remember that you can also craft different questions depending on your responses. You might want to let the interviewee read the essay when you are done to ensure all the information is accurate and correct.

The criminal justice system and poverty tend to go hand in hand. People with criminal records are more likely to be impoverished for several reasons. You might want to write an essay that hits on some of these points:

• Discuss the discriminatory practices of the criminal justice system both as they relate to socioeconomic status and as they relate to race.
• Explore just how hard it is for someone to get a job if they have a criminal record. Discuss how this might contribute to a life of poverty.
• Dive into how this creates a positive feedback loop. For example, when someone cannot get a job due to a criminal record, they might have to steal to survive, which worsens the issue.
• Review what the criminal justice system might be like for someone with resources when compared to someone who cannot afford to hire expert witnesses or pay for a good attorney.

You might want to include a few examples of disparate sentences for people in different socioeconomic situations to back up your points. 

Affordable housing can make a major difference when someone is trying to escape poverty

Many poverty-related problems could be reduced if people had access to affordable housing. While the cost of housing has increased dramatically in the United States , some initiatives exist to create affordable housing. Here are a few points to include:

• Talk about public programs that offer affordable housing to people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Discuss private programs, such as Habitat for Humanity , doing similar things.
• Review the positive impacts that stable housing has on both adults and children.
• Dive into other measures local and federal governments could take to provide more affordable housing for people.

There are a lot of political and social angles to address with this essay, so you might want to consider spreading this out across multiple papers. Affordable housing can make a major difference when trying to escape poverty. If you want to learn more, check out our essay writing tips !

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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5 Essays About Poverty Everyone Should Know

Poverty is one of the driving forces of inequality in the world. Between 1990-2015, much progress was made. The number of people living on less than $1.90 went from 36% to 10%. However, according to the World Bank , the COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious problem that disproportionately impacts the poor. Research released in February of 2020 shows that by 2030, up to ⅔ of the “global extreme poor” will be living in conflict-affected and fragile economies. Poverty will remain a major human rights issue for decades to come. Here are five essays about the issue that everyone should know:

“We need an economic bill of rights” –  Martin Luther King Jr.

The Guardian published an abridged version of this essay in 2018, which was originally released in Look magazine just after Dr. King was killed. In this piece, Dr. King explains why an economic bill of rights is necessary. He points out that while mass unemployment within the black community is a “social problem,” it’s a “depression” in the white community. An economic bill of rights would give a job to everyone who wants one and who can work. It would also give an income to those who can’t work. Dr. King affirms his commitment to non-violence. He’s fully aware that tensions are high. He quotes a spiritual, writing “timing is winding up.” Even while the nation progresses, poverty is getting worse.

This essay was reprinted and abridged in The Guardian in an arrangement with The Heirs to the Estate of Martin Luther King. Jr. The most visible representative of the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1955, Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. His essays and speeches remain timely.

“How Poverty Can Follow Children Into Adulthood” – Priyanka Boghani

This article is from 2017, but it’s more relevant than ever because it was written when 2012 was the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. That’s no longer the case. In 2012, around ¼ American children were in poverty. Five years later, children were still more likely than adults to be poor. This is especially true for children of colour. Consequences of poverty include anxiety, hunger, and homelessness. This essay also looks at the long-term consequences that come from growing up in poverty. A child can develop health problems that affect them in adulthood. Poverty can also harm a child’s brain development. Being aware of how poverty affects children and follows them into adulthood is essential as the world deals with the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Priyanka Boghani is a journalist at PBS Frontline. She focuses on U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian crises, and conflicts in the Middle East. She also assists in managing Frontline’s social accounts.

“5 Reasons COVID-19 Will Impact the Fight to End Extreme Poverty” – Leah Rodriguez

For decades, the UN has attempted to end extreme poverty. In the face of the novel coronavirus outbreak, new challenges threaten the fight against poverty. In this essay, Dr. Natalie Linos, a Harvard social epidemiologist, urges the world to have a “social conversation” about how the disease impacts poverty and inequality. If nothing is done, it’s unlikely that the UN will meet its Global Goals by 2030. Poverty and COVID-19 intersect in five key ways. For one, low-income people are more vulnerable to disease. They also don’t have equal access to healthcare or job stability. This piece provides a clear, concise summary of why this outbreak is especially concerning for the global poor.

Leah Rodriguez’s writing at Global Citizen focuses on women, girls, water, and sanitation. She’s also worked as a web producer and homepage editor for New York Magazine’s The Cut.

“Climate apartheid”: World’s poor to suffer most from disasters” – Al Jazeera and news Agencies

The consequences of climate change are well-known to experts like Philip Alston, the special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. In 2019, he submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council sounding the alarm on how climate change will devastate the poor. While the wealthy will be able to pay their way out of devastation, the poor will not. This will end up creating a “climate apartheid.” Alston states that if climate change isn’t addressed, it will undo the last five decades of progress in poverty education, as well as global health and development .

“Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting by in America” – Barbara Ehrenreich

In this excerpt from her book Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich describes her experience choosing to live undercover as an “unskilled worker” in the US. She wanted to investigate the impact the 1996 welfare reform act had on the working poor. Released in 2001, the events take place between the spring of 1998 and the summer of 2000. Ehrenreich decided to live in a town close to her “real life” and finds a place to live and a job. She has her eyes opened to the challenges and “special costs” of being poor. In 2019, The Guardian ranked the book 13th on their list of 100 best books of the 21st century.

Barbara Ehrenreich is the author of 21 books and an activist. She’s worked as an award-winning columnist and essayist.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

Poverty Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on poverty essay.

“Poverty is the worst form of violence”. – Mahatma Gandhi.

How Poverty is Measured?

For measuring poverty United nations have devised two measures of poverty – Absolute & relative poverty.  Absolute poverty is used to measure poverty in developing countries like India. Relative poverty is used to measure poverty in developed countries like the USA. In absolute poverty, a line based on the minimum level of income has been created & is called a poverty line.  If per day income of a family is below this level, then it is poor or below the poverty line. If per day income of a family is above this level, then it is non-poor or above the poverty line. In India, the new poverty line is  Rs 32 in rural areas and Rs 47 in urban areas.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Causes of Poverty

According to the Noble prize winner South African leader, Nelson Mandela – “Poverty is not natural, it is manmade”. The above statement is true as the causes of poverty are generally man-made. There are various causes of poverty but the most important is population. Rising population is putting the burden on the resources & budget of countries. Governments are finding difficult to provide food, shelter & employment to the rising population.

The other causes are- lack of education, war, natural disaster, lack of employment, lack of infrastructure, political instability, etc. For instance- lack of employment opportunities makes a person jobless & he is not able to earn enough to fulfill the basic necessities of his family & becomes poor. Lack of education compels a person for less paying jobs & it makes him poorer. Lack of infrastructure means there are no industries, banks, etc. in a country resulting in lack of employment opportunities. Natural disasters like flood, earthquake also contribute to poverty.

In some countries, especially African countries like Somalia, a long period of civil war has made poverty widespread. This is because all the resources & money is being spent in war instead of public welfare. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. are prone to natural disasters like cyclone, etc. These disasters occur every year causing poverty to rise.

Ill Effects of Poverty

Poverty affects the life of a poor family. A poor person is not able to take proper food & nutrition &his capacity to work reduces. Reduced capacity to work further reduces his income, making him poorer. Children from poor family never get proper schooling & proper nutrition. They have to work to support their family & this destroys their childhood. Some of them may also involve in crimes like theft, murder, robbery, etc. A poor person remains uneducated & is forced to live under unhygienic conditions in slums. There are no proper sanitation & drinking water facility in slums & he falls ill often &  his health deteriorates. A poor person generally dies an early death. So, all social evils are related to poverty.

Government Schemes to Remove Poverty

The government of India also took several measures to eradicate poverty from India. Some of them are – creating employment opportunities , controlling population, etc. In India, about 60% of the population is still dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Government has taken certain measures to promote agriculture in India. The government constructed certain dams & canals in our country to provide easy availability of water for irrigation. Government has also taken steps for the cheap availability of seeds & farming equipment to promote agriculture. Government is also promoting farming of cash crops like cotton, instead of food crops. In cities, the government is promoting industrialization to create more jobs. Government has also opened  ‘Ration shops’. Other measures include providing free & compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age, scholarship to deserving students from a poor background, providing subsidized houses to poor people, etc.

Poverty is a social evil, we can also contribute to control it. For example- we can simply donate old clothes to poor people, we can also sponsor the education of a poor child or we can utilize our free time by teaching poor students. Remember before wasting food, somebody is still sleeping hungry.

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Poverty, by America

44 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapter 9-Epilogue

Key Figures

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Summary and Study Guide

Poverty, by America is a 2023 book by the sociologist and professor Matthew Desmond . The title indicates a shift in focus from the standard scholarly discussion of poverty in the United States. Whereas most books and articles focus on describing poverty in order to raise awareness of the plight of the poor, which might collectively be called “poverty in America,” Desmond’s use of the word “by” points to the social and political institutions that create and sustain a degree of poverty that has no comparison in the Global North. Desmond wants Americans to not only notice the poor and feel for their plight but also see how they themselves contribute to the problem of poverty by virtue of the products they buy, the neighborhoods they live in, the government programs they benefit from, and, most importantly, the actions within their power that they do not take.

This guide refers to the first hardcover edition (2023) by Crown Publishing.

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While Desmond’s intent is not to describe poverty, he has to begin with a description that paves the way for a broader social critique. Poverty is not simply a lack of money, which suggests a passive condition that might afflict someone with a lack of skills or initiative. Relying on the insights of social psychology as well as the stories of people he encountered in his many years of both living in poverty and studying it as an academic, Desmond depicts poverty as pain, fear, shame, sickness, and enforced restraint, all combining to downgrade the quality of a person’s life in all respects, of which the numbers in their bank account are the least concerning.

The key takeaway is that the poor are not just lacking in goods or failing to claw themselves out but are constantly engaged with a myriad network of institutions that make it nearly impossible for them to improve their lot or enjoy even a momentary respite from fear that things will only get worse. Poverty does not exist without a social structure that perpetuates poverty, either by exploiting the poor directly or refusing to help them. The existence of a social structure with a direct interest in sustaining poverty—or at least a lack of interest in alleviating it—provides a much more plausible explanation for the lack of progress made on the issue of poverty in the last half century, as compared with typical scapegoats like immigrants or single mothers.

One of the major causes of poverty in America is the weakening power of workers compared to managers. The minimum wage practically guarantees a life at or near the poverty line, and there is no intrinsic need to pay them so little, other than an agreement between producers and consumers that low labor costs are worth denying workers a fair wage. Modern technology has undoubtedly made it easier to automate many jobs and ship many others overseas, but Desmond insists that people make deliberate choices on how to channel these developments into policy, ensuring that some interests will be privileged and others will not. He argues that the interests of the worker need not be disregarded so thoroughly. Making matters worse, poor people suffer at the hands of landlords and predatory financial lenders who are able to extract more money for less from people with nowhere else to turn.

Another major cause of poverty lies in the methods that middle- and upper-class people utilize to retain their privileges. Contrary to the public perception of “welfare” as free gifts for the poor, the government spends vastly more money on more affluent families, whether by helping them make a down payment on a home or contributing to their employers’ health insurance plan. No political controversy surrounds such measures because those who receive them believe themselves deserving of them and have the clout to prioritize their own interests. Overall, there is a disturbing trend of the wealthy retreating into their own private bubbles, starving the public sphere of services for those who need them.

The closing chapters put forward several policy recommendations for not just improving the conditions of the poor but also abolishing poverty outright. This includes raising the minimum wage, investing in affordable housing, and shutting down tax shelters for millionaires and billionaires. The most important proposal is eliminating the invisible boundaries between rich and poor so that they live in the same neighborhoods, send their children to the same schools, and thus have to turn to one another to address social problems. This will not necessarily make the poor richer, but as Desmond points out, money is not the main problem. Letting the poor live in communities with social capital will help them avoid so many of the social problems that haunt high-poverty areas, improving their children’s chances of improving their lives. There will be no solution to poverty as long as the problem remains an abstraction in the minds of voters. It must start in cities and towns where the poor have become neighbors and friends.

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Important Quotes for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam General Studies and Essay Papers

Using quotes from revered personalities to emphasise your point adds a lot of value to your answers in the IAS exam. With the introduction of the GS 4 paper (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) and the changing nature of the Essay paper (UPSC mains 2018 Essay paper had four topics related to quotes/philosophy/character), it has become quite necessary to include some relevant quotes in the answers.

For the UPSC Exam , selecting quotes is important as quoting some celebrity/non-entity is likely to do more harm than good. During the preparation phase, an IAS aspirant can either classify quotes based on the source or organise them under broad pertinent categories such as education, Justice, etc.

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In this article, we have compiled a list of quotes which are important from the UPSC syllabus point of view. Also, the two ways to categorise the quotes for quick revision are illustrated below. Candidates are advised to use the approach that suits their study process.

Important Quotes for UPSC GS and Essay

• Issue-based categories

The list given above is just a brief example. Aspirants should identify issues/keywords and make their list of UPSC relevant quotes.

• Quotes categorised by author/personality

Although comprehensive, the table of odd quotes above is by no means exhaustive. IAS aspirants should go through UPSC mains GS and essay papers from past years to understand how these quotes can come in handy and then compile and categorise their own lists.

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Guest Essay

Many Patients Don’t Survive End-Stage Poverty

By Lindsay Ryan

Dr. Ryan is an associate physician at the University of California, San Francisco, department of medicine.

He has an easy smile, blue eyes and a life-threatening bone infection in one arm. Grateful for treatment, he jokes with the medical intern each morning. A friend, a fellow doctor, is supervising the man’s care. We both work as internists at a public hospital in the medical safety net , a loose term for institutions that disproportionately serve patients on Medicaid or without insurance. You could describe the safety net in another way, too, as a place that holds up a mirror to our nation.

What is reflected can be difficult to face. It’s this: After learning that antibiotics aren’t eradicating his infection and amputation is the only chance for cure, the man withdraws, says barely a word to the intern. When she asks what he’s thinking, his reply is so tentative that she has to prompt him to repeat himself. Now with a clear voice, he tells her that if his arm must be amputated, he doesn’t want to live. She doesn’t understand what it’s like to survive on the streets, he continues. With a disability, he’ll be a target — robbed, assaulted. He’d rather die, unless, he says later, someone can find him a permanent apartment. In that case, he’ll proceed with the amputation.

The psychiatrists evaluate him. He’s not suicidal. His reasoning is logical. The social workers search for rooms, but in San Francisco far more people need long-term rehousing than the available units can accommodate. That the medical care the patient is receiving exceeds the cost of a year’s rent makes no practical difference. Eventually, the palliative care doctors see him. He transitions to hospice and dies.

A death certificate would say he died of sepsis from a bone infection, but my friend and I have a term for the illness that killed him: end-stage poverty. We needed to coin a phrase because so many of our patients die of the same thing.

Safety-net hospitals and clinics care for a population heavily skewed toward the poor, recent immigrants and people of color. The budgets of these places are forever tight . And anyone who works in them could tell you that illness in our patients isn’t just a biological phenomenon. It’s the manifestation of social inequality in people’s bodies.

Neglecting this fact can make otherwise meticulous care fail. That’s why, on one busy night, a medical student on my team is scouring websites and LinkedIn. She’s not shirking her duties. In fact, she’s one of the best students I’ve ever taught.

This week she’s caring for a retired low-wage worker with strokes and likely early dementia who was found sleeping in the street. He abandoned his rent-controlled apartment when electrolyte and kidney problems triggered a period of severe confusion that has since been resolved. Now, with little savings, he has nowhere to go. A respite center can receive patients like him when it has vacancies. The alternative is a shelter bed. He’s nearly 90 years old.

Medical textbooks usually don’t discuss fixing your patient’s housing. They seldom include making sure your patient has enough food and some way to get to a clinic. But textbooks miss what my med students don’t: that people die for lack of these basics.

People struggle to keep wounds clean. Their medications get stolen. They sicken from poor diet, undervaccination and repeated psychological trauma. Forced to focus on short-term survival and often lacking cellphones, they miss appointments for everything from Pap smears to chemotherapy. They fall ill in myriad ways — and fall through the cracks in just as many.

Early in his hospitalization, our retired patient mentions a daughter, from whom he’s been estranged for years. He doesn’t know any contact details, just her name. It’s a long shot, but we wonder if she can take him in.

The med student has one mission: find her.

I love reading about medical advances. I’m blown away that with a brain implant, a person who’s paralyzed can move a robotic arm and that surgeons recently transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a man on dialysis. This is the best of American innovation and cause for celebration. But breakthroughs like these won’t fix the fact that despite spending the highest percentage of its G.D.P. on health care among O.E.C.D. nations, the United States has a life expectancy years lower than comparable nations—the U.K. and Canada— and a rate of preventable death far higher .

The solution to that problem is messy, incremental, protean and inglorious. It requires massive investment in housing, addiction treatment, free and low-barrier health care and social services. It calls for just as much innovation in the social realm as in the biomedical, for acknowledgment that inequities — based on race, class, primary language and other categories — mediate how disease becomes embodied. If health care is interpreted in the truest sense of caring for people’s health, it must be a practice that extends well beyond the boundaries of hospitals and clinics.

Meanwhile, on the ground, we make do. Though the social workers are excellent and try valiantly, there are too few of them , both in my hospital and throughout a country that devalues and underfunds their profession. And so the medical student spends hours helping the family of a newly arrived Filipino immigrant navigate the health insurance system. Without her efforts, he wouldn’t get treatment for acute hepatitis C. Another patient, who is in her 20s, can’t afford rent after losing her job because of repeated hospitalizations for pancreatitis — but she can’t get the pancreatic operation she needs without a home in which to recuperate. I phone an eviction defense lawyer friend; the young woman eventually gets surgery.

Sorting out housing and insurance isn’t the best use of my skill set or that of the medical students and residents, but our efforts can be rewarding. The internet turned up the work email of the daughter of the retired man. Her house was a little cramped with his grandchildren, she said, but she would make room. The medical student came in beaming.

In these cases we succeeded; in many others we don’t. Safety-net hospitals can feel like the rapids foreshadowing a waterfall, the final common destination to which people facing inequities are swept by forces beyond their control. We try our hardest to fish them out, but sometimes we can’t do much more than toss them a life jacket or maybe a barrel and hope for the best.

I used to teach residents about the principles of internal medicine — sodium disturbances, delirium management, antibiotics. I still do, but these days I also teach about other topics — tapping community resources, thinking creatively about barriers and troubleshooting how our patients can continue to get better after leaving the supports of the hospital.

When we debrief, residents tell me how much they struggle with the moral dissonance of working in a system in which the best medicine they can provide often falls short. They’re right about how much it hurts, so I don’t know exactly what to say to them. Perhaps I never will.

Lindsay Ryan is an associate physician at the University of California, San Francisco, department of medicine.

Source photographs by Bettmann and Fred W. McDarrah via Getty Images.

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Turmoil at NPR after editor rips network for political bias

The public radio network is being targeted by conservative activists over the editor’s essay, which many staffers say is misleading and inaccurate.

Uri Berliner had worked at NPR for a quarter-century when he wrote the essay that would abruptly end his tenure. On April 9, the Free Press published 3,500 words from Berliner, a senior business editor, about how the public radio network is guilty of journalistic malpractice — for conforming to a politically liberal worldview at the expense of fairness and accuracy.

“It’s true NPR has always had a liberal bent, but during most of my tenure here, an open-minded, curious culture prevailed,” Berliner wrote. “We were nerdy, but not knee-jerk, activist, or scolding. In recent years, however, that has changed.”

The essay, whose arguments were disputed by NPR management and many staffers, plunged the network into a week-long public controversy.

Last week NPR’s new CEO, Katherine Maher, indirectly referenced Berliner’s essay in a note to staff that NPR also published online. “Asking a question about whether we’re living up to our mission should always be fair game: after all, journalism is nothing if not hard questions,” she wrote. “Questioning whether our people are serving our mission with integrity, based on little more than the recognition of their identity, is profoundly disrespectful, hurtful, and demeaning.”

The drama reached a pinnacle Wednesday, when Berliner resigned while taking a shot at Maher.

In his resignation letter, Berliner called NPR “a great American institution” that should not be defunded. “I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism,” he wrote in the letter, posted on his X account. “But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems I cite in my Free Press essay.”

Berliner’s comments have angered many of his now-former colleagues, who dismissed as inaccurate his depiction of their workplace and who say his faulty criticisms have been weaponized against them.

Berliner’s essay is titled “ I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust .” On its face, it seemed to confirm the worst suspicions held by NPR’s critics on the right: that the legendary media organization had an ideological, progressive agenda that dictates its journalism. The Free Press is an online publication started by journalist Bari Weiss, whose own resignation from the New York Times in 2020 was used by conservative politicians as evidence that the Times stifled certain ideas and ideologies; Weiss accused the Times of catering to a rigid, politically left-leaning worldview and of refusing to defend her against online “bullies” when she expressed views to the contrary. Berliner’s essay was accompanied by several glossy portraits and a nearly hour-long podcast interview with Weiss. He also went on NewsNation, where the host Chris Cuomo — who had been cast out from CNN for crossing ethical lines to help his governor-brother — called Berliner a “whistleblower.”

Initially, Berliner was suspended for not getting approval for doing work for another publication. NPR policy requires receiving written permission from supervisors “for all outside freelance and journalistic work,” according to the employee handbook.

An NPR spokeswoman said Wednesday that the network does not comment on personnel matters. Berliner declined The Washington Post’s request for further comment.

In an interview Tuesday with NPR’s David Folkenflik — whose work is also criticized in the Free Press essay — Berliner said “we have great journalists here. If they shed their opinions and did the great journalism they’re capable of, this would be a much more interesting and fulfilling organization for our listeners.”

Berliner’s future at NPR became an open question. NPR leaders were pressed by staff in meetings this week as to why he was still employed there. And some reporters made clear they didn’t want to be edited by Berliner anymore because they now questioned his journalistic judgment, said one prominent NPR journalist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve relationships. “How are you supposed to have honest debates about coverage if you think it’s going to be fodder for the point he’s trying to make?” the staffer said.

Berliner had written that “there’s an unspoken consensus” about stories to pursue at NPR — “of supposed racism, transphobia, signs of the climate apocalypse, Israel doing something bad, and the dire threat of Republican policies” — and that the network operated without friction, “almost like an assembly line.”

Several prominent NPR journalists countered that impression. “We have strong, heated editorial debates every day to try and get the most appropriate language and nuanced reporting in a landscape that is divisive and difficult to work in as a journalist,” Leila Fadel, host of “Morning Edition,” told The Post. “Media and free independent press are often under attack for the fact-based reporting that we do.” She called Berliner’s essay “a bad-faith effort” and a “factually inaccurate take on our work that was filled with omissions to back his arguments.”

Other staffers noted that Berliner did not seek comment from NPR for his piece. No news organization is above reproach, “Weekend Edition” host Ayesha Rascoe told The Post, but someone should not “be able to tear down an entire organization’s work without any sort of response or context provided, or pushback.” There are many legitimate critiques to make of NPR’s coverage, she added, “but the way this has been done — it’s to invalidate all the work NPR does.”

NPR is known to have a very collegial culture, and the manner in which Berliner aired his criticism — perhaps even more than the substance of it — is what upset so many of his co-workers, according to one staffer.

“Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep, writing on his Substack on Tuesday , fact-checked or contextualized several of the arguments Berliner made. For instance: Berliner wrote that he once asked “why we keep using that word that many Hispanics hate — Latinx.” Inskeep said he searched 90 days of NPR’s content and found “Latinx” was used nine times — “usually by a guest” — compared to the nearly 400 times “Latina” and “Latino” were used.

“This article needed a better editor,” Inskeep wrote. “I don’t know who, if anyone, edited Uri’s story, but they let him publish an article that discredited itself. … A careful read of the article shows many sweeping statements for which the writer is unable to offer evidence.”

This week conservative activist Christopher Rufo — who rose to fame for targeting “critical race theory,” and whose scrutiny of Harvard President Claudine Gay preceded her resignation — set his sights on Maher, surfacing old social media posts she wrote before she joined the news organization. In one 2020 tweet, she referred to Trump as a “deranged racist.” Others posts show her wearing a Biden hat, or wistfully daydreaming about hanging out with Kamala D. Harris. Rufo has called for Maher’s resignation.

“In America everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen,” Maher wrote in a statement to The Post, when asked about the social media posts. “What matters is NPR’s work and my commitment as its CEO: public service, editorial independence, and the mission to serve all of the American public.”

Maher, who started her job as NPR CEO last month, previously was the head of the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that operates the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. An NPR spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday that Maher “was not working in journalism at the time” of the social media posts; she was “exercising her first amendment right to express herself like any other American citizen,” and “the CEO is not involved in editorial decisions.”

In a statement, an NPR spokesperson described the outcry over Maher’s old posts as “a bad faith attack that follows an established playbook, as online actors with explicit agendas work to discredit independent news organizations.”

Meanwhile, some NPR staffers want a more forceful defense of NPR journalism by management. An internal letter — signed by about 50 NPR staffers as of Wednesday afternoon — called on Maher and NPR editor in chief Edith Chapin to “publicly and directly” call out Berliner’s “factual inaccuracies and elisions.”

In the essay, Berliner accuses NPR of mishandling three major stories: the allegations of the 2016 Trump campaign’s collusion with Russia, the origins of the coronavirus , and the authenticity and relevance of Hunter Biden’s laptop. Berliner’s critics note that he didn’t oversee coverage of these stories. They also say that his essay indirectly maligns employee affinity groups — he name-checks groups for Muslim, Jewish, queer and Black employees, which he wrote “reflect broader movement in the culture of people clustering together based on ideology or a characteristic at birth.” (Berliner belonged to the group for Jewish employees, according to an NPR staffer with knowledge of membership.) He also writes that he found NPR’s D.C. newsroom employed 87 registered Democrats and zero Republicans in editorial positions in 2021. His critics say this figure lacks proper context.

Tony Cavin, NPR’s managing editor of standards and practices, told The Post that “I have no idea where he got that number,” that NPR’s newsroom has 660 employees, and that “I know a number of our hosts and staff are registered as independents.” That includes Inskeep, who, on his Substack, backed up Cavin’s assessment.

Berliner also wrote that, during the administration of Donald Trump , NPR “hitched our wagon” to top Trump antagonist Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) by interviewing him 25 times about Trump and Russia. Cavin told The Post NPR aired 900 interviews with lawmakers during the same period of time, “so that’s 3 percent. He’s a business reporter, he knows about statistics and it seems he’s selectively using statistics.”

Cavin said some inside the organization agree with points Berliner made, even if they “don’t like the way he went about it. The irony of this is it tells you how diverse as an organization we are, in ideological terms.”

“There are a few bits of truth in this,” NPR international correspondent Eyder Peralta wrote on Facebook. But he said the essay “uses a selecting reading to serve the author’s own world views” and paints with “too broad a brush.”

“I have covered wars, I have been thrown in jail for my work,” Peralta told The Post, “and for him to question part of what is in our nature, which is intellectual curiosity and that we follow our noses where they lead us, that hurts. And I think that damages NPR.”

Some staffers have also been attacked online since the essay’s publication. Rascoe, who, as a Black woman host for NPR, says she’s no stranger to online vitriol, but one message after Berliner’s essay labeled her as a “DEI hire” who has “never read a book in her life.”

“What stung about this one was it came on the basis of a supposed colleague’s op-ed,” whose words were “being used as fodder to attack me,” Rascoe said. “And my concern is not about me, but all the younger journalists who don’t have the platform I have and who will be attacked and their integrity questioned simply on the basis of who they are.”

NPR, like much of the media industry, has struggled in recent years with a declining audience and a tough ad market. NPR laid off 100 workers in 2023, one of its largest layoffs ever , citing fewer sponsorships and a projected $30 million decline in revenue.

Going forward, some staffers worry about the ramifications of Berliner’s essay and the reactions to it. The open letter to Maher and Chapin said that “sending the message that a public essay is the easiest way to make change is setting a bad precedent, regardless of the ideologies being expressed.”

An earlier version of this article included a reference to Uri Berliner's Free Press essay in which Berliner cited voter registration data for editorial employees of NPR's D.C. newsroom. The article has been updated to clarify that this data was from 2021, not the present day.

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