If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.

Wisdom adorneth riches and casteth a shadow over poverty.

From his understanding of wealth and poverty came his understanding of labor and capital, which led him to the solution of trusteeship based on the belief that there is no private ownership of capital; it is given in trust for redistribution and equalization. Similarly, while recognizing differential aptitudes and talents, he holds that these are gifts from God to be used for the collective good.

Wealth brings a heavy purse; poverty, a light spirit.

Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times - times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry, and wealth accumulation - that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.

The hopes of the Republic cannot forever tolerate either undeserved poverty or self-serving wealth.