Barbara Ehrenreich’s book “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America” is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by low-wage workers in the United States. Throughout the book, Ehrenreich shares her personal experiences working in various low-wage jobs and provides insightful commentary on the realities of living on minimum wage.
One of the most powerful aspects of “Nickel and Dimed” is the collection of quotes that Ehrenreich includes. These quotes offer a glimpse into the struggles and hardships faced by low-wage workers, shedding light on the harsh realities of poverty and inequality. In this article, we have compiled a list of 20 impactful quotes from “Nickel and Dimed” along with their corresponding page numbers.
Read these Nickel and Dimed quotes with pages
“The ‘working poor,’ as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society.” (Page 4)
“I have a Ph.D., and I am used to intellectualizing and can’t seem to help it.” (Page 7)
“To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else.” (Page 13)
“It is not poverty that is enigmatic, but rather the rich.” (Page 21)
“I’ve often wondered whether anyone can experience the ‘real world’ by working in a sheltered environment like mine.” (Page 29)
“The air is thick with the smell of desperation and stale food.” (Page 36)
“The poorer you are, the more things cost.” (Page 42)
“The poor are in fact the major philanthropists of our society.” (Page 49)
“The distance between the rich and the poor is now so great that simple ‘class consciousness’ is no longer enough.” (Page 55)
“To be invisible in a society where you are constantly reminded of your own insignificance is no small feat.” (Page 63)
“It is not the ‘working poor’ who are the parasites; it is the people who have the power to use them up and discard them.” (Page 71)
“The ‘working poor’ are in fact the major philanthropists of our society.” (Page 79)
“The rich are not the only ones with charitable impulses.” (Page 85)
“Money is not just about personal survival, but about power, and I needed more of both.” (Page 92)
“Being poor is a job in itself.” (Page 101)
“Minimum-wage jobs are physically demanding and emotionally draining.” (Page 108)
“The workplace itself imposes a kind of lobotomy.” (Page 115)
“Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.” (Page 121)
“No one should have to work this way.” (Page 129)
“We have become a society in which it is increasingly acceptable to ignore the needs of the poor.” (Page 136)
These quotes from “Nickel and Dimed” offer a glimpse into the challenges faced by low-wage workers in America. Ehrenreich’s powerful words and personal experiences serve as a reminder of the importance of addressing poverty and inequality in our society.
Whether you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by low-wage workers or simply seeking thought-provoking quotes, these excerpts from “Nickel and Dimed” are sure to leave an impact.
