"To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man endeavors with his utmost care to hide his poverty from others, and his idleness from himself"
- Samuel Johnson
About this Quote
This quote by Samuel Johnson speaks with the shame and stigma connected with hardship and idleness. Johnson suggests that individuals are so embarrassed by their poverty and idleness that they go to fantastic lengths to conceal it from others and even from themselves. This quote talks to the power of social stigma and how it can lead individuals to feel embarrassed of their scenarios and to go to fantastic lengths to conceal them. It also speaks with the power of self-deception, as individuals might be so ashamed of their hardship and idleness that they attempt to persuade themselves that it is not the case. This quote is a pointer of the power of social preconception and how it can lead individuals to feel embarrassed of their situations and to go to great lengths to hide them.
About the Author