dismal to be poor

No doubt about it: It is dismal to be poor. The things of the life are very pleasant. Everything invites you to partake, and the ladies are - sometimes - magnificent. When one is poor, one can only look at these things from afar because we poor have no purchasing power. - The Gray Notebook by Josep Pla, Pg. 504

особенно забавно это sometimes, ну и дальше там would like to have money: to be able to walk past a restaurant, a lady, or a shopwindow and remain aloof.

см. также on flattery & concupiscence

в общем под конец я уже пролистывал. пишет он хорошо, но многое не имеет отношения ни к чему.

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see also in nyt