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

The quote by Ben Hecht implies that both rich and bad individuals seek something from others. A rich person who flaunts their wealth is seeking envy from others, while a poor individual who displays their hardship is looking for regret from others. In both cases, the people are trying to find something from others. The quote suggests that material ownerships do not define a person's worth which seeking recognition and attention through wealth or hardship is an useless effort. Ultimately, the quote highlights the significance of valuing oneself without looking for external validation based on product possessions.