"We are not concerned with the very poor. They are unthinkable, and only to be approached by the statistician or the poet"

This quote by E. M. Forster recommends that the extremely poor are not a concern for many people. They are not even considered, and just those with a specific function, such as a statistician or a poet, are able to approach them. This suggests that the extremely poor are not seen as people, but rather as a statistic or a subject of poetry. It is a sad commentary on the way society views hardship and those who are impacted by it. It suggests that the extremely poor are not viewed as people who are worthy of respect and self-respect, however rather as objects to be studied or discussed. This quote highlights the requirement for society to acknowledge the mankind of the very poor and to do something about it to deal with the problems that cause poverty. It is a pointer that everyone should have to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their economic status.