Prabhupada: What is the use of your serving poor? Are you serving the poor? Why do you talk like that? First of all, are you serving the poor?

Indian lady (5): Yes, sir. I am a doctor. And we see only poverty. So I want to ask.

Prabhupada: This has become a slogan, "Serving the poor." Where is the sastra? Where in Bhagavad-gita it is said, "Serving the poor?" You are yourself poor. So how you can serve? [laughter] First of all, we should know that "I am the poorest of the poor." So first of all let me become rich. Then I shall serve. This slogan has spread, "If I serve the poor…" And what you have got, you will serve the poor? You have to work like an ass to earn your livelihood, and you are going to serve the poor.

March 23, 1974, Bombay