Bitter poverty has no harder pang than that it makes men ridiculous.
• Lines 152-3 (tr. Bartlett's, 14th ed.)
Of all the Griefs that harrass the Distrest, / Sure the most bitter is a scornful Jest. (tr. Samuel Johnson)
The hardest thing to bear in poverty is the fact that it makes men ridiculous. (tr. Peter Green)
Wretched poverty offers nothing harsher than this: it makes men ridiculous. (tr. Charles Witke)
• Lines 152-3 (tr. Bartlett's, 14th ed.)
Of all the Griefs that harrass the Distrest, / Sure the most bitter is a scornful Jest. (tr. Samuel Johnson)
The hardest thing to bear in poverty is the fact that it makes men ridiculous. (tr. Peter Green)
Wretched poverty offers nothing harsher than this: it makes men ridiculous. (tr. Charles Witke)
“
Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se,
quam quod ridiculos homines facit.
— Juvenal
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se,
quam quod ridiculos homines facit." in the context of "Bitter poverty has no harder pang than that it makes men ridiculous.
• Lines 152-3 (tr. Bartlett's, 14th ed.)
Of all the Griefs that harrass the Distrest, / Sure the most bitter is a scornful Jest. (tr. Samuel Johnson)
The hardest thing to bear in poverty is the fact that it makes men ridiculous. (tr. Peter Green)
Wretched poverty offers nothing harsher than this: it makes men ridiculous. (tr. Charles Witke)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Juvenal" (Quotes, Satire III)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Juvenal
Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis (c. 55 – c. 140), anglicized as Juvenal, was a Roman satiric poet.
About Juvenal
Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis (c. 55 – c. 140), anglicized as Juvenal, was a Roman satiric poet.
View all quotes →