A crumpled burlap sack sits on worn wooden floorboards beneath a warm shaft of light.

Original artwork, not a still

Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin

It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

An empty sack provides an image of something that can't support itself. The saying invites a similar thought about people lacking what they need to stand firm. Its simple physical comparison leaves open whether those needs are material or less tangible.

Context reviewed

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