A profound statement!
By maryke_anne
@maryke_anne (25)
South Africa
July 7, 2010 7:18am CST
I have a "Quote of the day" widget on my personal blog, and today it says the following by Herman Melville:
"Of all the preposterous presumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed and well-fed"
That really made me think about the time when we went through a rough patch and everyone tried to tell us what to do. Not really thinking of the practicality of their advice. It was easy to say ... start something from home ... when the one on the receiving end doesn't have a few cents to rub together.
What is practical advice for someone going through a really bad time?
2 responses
@wmraul (2552)
• Bucharest, Romania
7 Jul 10
Well, that quote says the real thing.
"The one with full stomach does not understand what hunger is." is an aproximative translate of some of my people wisdom - proverb.
If one is in deep trouble, sometime a good word or advice may have some value, yet a homeless - for example - need a home, not "wise talkings".
Practical advice ? Something very personalized with chances to be made come true. And eventually some support in that direction. If can not help, have no idea or not sure you want to involve, is better say you can not help at all or make clear the limits of your support capabilities.
Else the one in need may build up false hopes and espectations and later, facing the reality, to be dissapointed ...
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
7 Jul 10
if a person really wants to help, then he/she shouldn't stop at giving advice but go on and give physical or financial support. people in need do not just need words of wisdom, they need real tangible options. they cannot make use of words of sympathy or encouragement to fill their hungry stomachs.
