Bitter poverty has no harder pang than that it makes men ridiculous.

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)