Ch 08 On Rules For Conduct In Life - Maxim 45

Whose bread is not eaten by others while he is alive, he will not be remembered when he is dead. A widow knows the delight of grapes and not the lord of fruits. Joseph the just, salutation to him, never ate to satiety in the Egyptian dearth for fear he might forget the hungry people. How can he who lives in comfort and abundance Know what the state of the famished is? He is aware of the condition of the poor Who has himself fallen into a state of distress. O thou who art riding a fleet horse, consider That the poor thorn-carrying ass is in water and mud. Ask not for fire from thy poor neighbour’s house Because what passes out of his window is the smoke of his heart.