The rich are never threatened by the poor—they do not notice them.

—Marie de France

poverty wealth class

About Marie de France

Portrait of Marie de France

Marie de France (fl. 1160–1215) was a poet, likely born in France, who lived in England during the late 12th century. She lived and wrote at an unknown court, but she and her work were almost certainly known at the royal court of King Henry II of England. Virtually nothing...

More quotations tagged with “class”

Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing.

privilege wealth class golf cloths

History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up.

history change class

A society that gives to one class all the opportunities for leisure and to another all the burdens of work condemns both classes to spiritual sterility.

—Lewis Mumford

society work inequality class leisure sterility

During my second year of nursing school, our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

—Joann C. Jones

attention career school class care smile

Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

—Eugene V. Debs

kinship living soul prison men class better

History

28 Sep 2013 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

The rich are never threatened by the poor — they do not notice them.