He could, therefore, sympathize with the fullest understanding with those similarly situated, could help as one who knew from practice and not from theory.

He realized what a marvellous blessing poverty can be; but as a condition to experience, to derive from it poignant lessons, and then to get out of; not as a condition to stay in.
Of course many said to Bok when he wrote the article in which he expressed these beliefs: "That's all very well; easy enough to say, but how can you get out of it ?" Bok realized that he could not definitely show any one the way.

No one had shown him.

No two persons can find the same way out.

Bok determined to lift himself out of poverty because his mother was not born in it, did not belong in it, and could not stand it.