"The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living generally find that the world pays its debt in the penitentiary or the poor house"

William Graham Sumner criticizes the entitlement mindset, presenting it as a perilous misconception. He suggests that those who believe they are inherently owed comfort or livelihood by society are harboring a dangerous illusion. This outlook is positioned as a form of self-deception that disconnects individuals from the realities of personal responsibility, effort, and merit. By trusting that the broader world will provide for them without reciprocal contribution, these individuals set themselves up for disappointment and, eventually, destitution or punishment.

Sumner identifies two harsh outcomes awaiting the entitled: the poor house and the penitentiary. The poor house represents economic failure, a life reduced to dependence on charity or state welfare. This is the fate of those who don't cultivate the discipline, initiative, or skills needed for self-sufficiency. On the other hand, the penitentiary symbolizes legal and moral failure. Those who can't secure their livelihood honestly, but still believe they are owed by society, may resort to theft, fraud, or other criminal activities, landing them behind bars.

There is an implicit argument for the virtues of self-reliance and personal responsibility. Sumner appears to advocate a worldview in which success is achieved through effort, perseverance, and adaptation rather than through claimed rights or an expectation of unearned support. He challenges the reader to consider the consequences of an entitlement mentality and, by extension, the societal structures that might enable or discourage it.

Underlying this perspective is also a critique of social policies or cultural narratives that suggest everyone deserves certain benefits independent of their actions. Sumner warns that such beliefs may ultimately lead to widespread disappointment and create dependencies that undermine individual dignity and social order. The ultimate lesson is that the world is seldom generous to those who approach it with only demands; it rewards those willing to give and risk something of themselves first.