Remembering the Poor and the Aesthetic of Society

The notion of the "good" society varied greatly from century to century and from place to place; the care of the poor varied accordingly. Those who showed the most concern about helping the poor—religious leaders, scholars, and ascetics—tended to be the ones who depended most on the favor and patronage of the powerful and wealthy. To urge that the powerful and wealthy always "remember the poor" was a way to ensure that they themselves would not be forgotten.