In Praise of Poverty

Written on 01/21/2026
Poetic Outlaws

By: William James

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

—William James

Among us English-speaking peoples especially do the praises of poverty need once more to be boldly sung. We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life.

If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the money-making street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition.

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