Eric Hoffer Quotes

The only way to have a better world and end poverty is by closing the gap between the top and the bottom.

The general idea of the rich helping the poor, I think, is important.

Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not possess our own wealth, but theirs.

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.

Charity separates the rich from the poor; aid raises the needy and sets him on the same level with the rich.

For the good of Spain, I should like there to be rather fewer rich people and rather fewer poor.

As Justice gives every Man a Title to the product of his honest industry, and the fair Acquisitions of his Ancestors descended to him; so Charity gives every Man a Title to so much out of another’s plenty, as will keep him from extreme want, where he has no means to subsist otherwise.

The rich have no more of the kingdom of heaven than they have purchased of the poor by their alms.

The basic confrontation which seemed to be colonialism versus anti-colonialism, indeed capitalism versus socialism, is already losing its importance. What matters today, the issue which blocks the horizon, is the need for a redistribution of wealth. Humanity will have to address this question, no matter how devastating the consequences may be.

My definition of a decent society is one that first of all takes care of its losers, and protects its weak. What I see in my country, progressively over these years, is that the rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer. The rich have become indifferent through a philosophy of greed, and the poorer have become hopeless because they're not properly cared for. That's actually something that is happening in many Western societies. Your own, I am told, is not free from it.

There can be no rule of God in the present state of iniquitous inequalities in which a few roll in riches and the masses do not get enough to eat.

The distribution of wealth is not determined by nature. It is determined by policy.

Once poverty is gone, we'll need to build museums to display its horrors to future generations. They'll wonder why poverty continued so long in human society - how a few people could live in luxury while billions dwelt in misery, deprivation and despair.

These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that's a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone. We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer.

The greatest difficulty with the world is not its ability to produce, but the unwillingness to share.

Spreading the wealth punishes success while setting America on course for a greater dependency on government.

The market economy is very good at wealth creation but not perfect at all about wealth distribution.

Just as we should never balance the budget on the backs of the poor, so it is an economic delusion to think you can balance it only on the wallets of the rich.

To understand the Left, one must understand that in its view the greatest evil is material inequality. The Left is more troubled by economic inequality than by evil as humanity has generally understood the term.

So when the only domestic social policy is tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthiest Americans, we say, 'Where is faith being put into action here?'

We need to have the social investments by which to quote unquote distribute some of that wealth.

I don't believe in trickle-down economics. I don't think that people who have the most are inclined to share it, generally.

The messenger matters. When people of modest means complain about inequality, it usually gets written off as class warfare, but when billionaires complain, the problem is redefined.

Government has got to work for all of us and not just for a few billionaires..

If I had the power I would steal all your royal wealth and give it to Christ’s brothers and sisters.