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Poor Things

Book by Alasdair Gray · 2 quotes · Society, Adolescents, Adult

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All Society Adolescents Adult Alasdair Gray Articulation Change Children Concealment Criticism Economy Good Goodness Hypocrisy Knowledge Medecine Oppression Philosophy Politics Poor Things Poverty

Poor Things Quotes

“Very poor children learn to beg, lie and steal from their parents – they would hardly survive otherwise. Prosperous parents tell their children that nobody should lie, steal or kill, and that idleness and gambling are vices. They then send them to schools where they suffer if they do not disguise their thoughts and feelings and are taught to admire killers and stealers like Achilles and Ulysses, William the Conqueror and Henry the Eighth. This prepares them for life in a land where rich people use acts of parliament to deprive the poor of homes and livelihoods, where unearned incomes are increased by stock-exchange gambling, where those who own most property work least and amuse themselves by hunting, horse-racing and leading their country into battle.”

Philosophy Politics Poverty Economy Society Hypocrisy Western Civilization Western Culture Wealth Gap

Book:Poor Things

Source: Poor Things

“Nature gives children great emotional resilience to help them survive the oppressions of being small, but these oppressions still make them into slightly insane adults, either mad to seize all the power they once lacked or (more usually) mad to avoid it.”

Children Psychology Society Criticism Oppression Adult Survivalism Adolescents

Book:Poor Things

Source: Poor Things