--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in…" description: "\"If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in opulence. When fortune exempts us from labor, nature overwhelms us with time.\" — Antoine Rivarol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/antoine-rivarol-11451_compensation_if-poverty-makes-man-groan-he-yawns-in-o_2461546.jpg" --- # If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in opulence. When… ![“If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in opulence. When fortune exempts us from labor, nature overwhelms us with time.” quote by Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/antoine-rivarol-11451_compensation_if-poverty-makes-man-groan-he-yawns-in-o_2461546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/antoine-rivarol-11451_compensation_if-poverty-makes-man-groan-he-yawns-in-o_2461546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/antoine-rivarol-11451_compensation_if-poverty-makes-man-groan-he-yawns-in-o_2461546.jpg) > “If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in opulence. When fortune exempts us from labor, nature overwhelms us with time.” [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth can make people idle and indifferent, while hardship forces effort and purpose. **In simple terms:** Richness leads to laziness; poverty drives work. Key Takeaway Recognize how comfort can dull ambition. Themes wealth work human nature Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - career stagnation - financial planning - personal development - social policy Key Concepts idleness purpose motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does comfort affect your drive? - Can wealth be used to foster purpose? A Different Perspective Comfort can also bring reflection and creativity, not just laziness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Opulence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opulence/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Poverty makes you work really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maye-musk/poverty-makes-you-work-really-hard/) [Maye Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maye-musk/) > [Well, you can do whatever you want, but just don’t call it inequality. Put the word poverty there. Because we have many rich people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branko-milanovic/well-you-can-do-whatever-you-want-but-just-don-t-call-it-inequality/) [Branko Milanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branko-milanovic/) > [We are raising a generation that has a woefully small stock of ideas and interests and emotions. It must be amused at all costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccracken/we-are-raising-a-generation-that-has-a-woefully-small-stock-of-ideas/) [Robert McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccracken/) > [Anybody can see that the little money you get is half-wasted, because you cannot spend it to advantage. The worst food comes to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-holyoake/anybody-can-see-that-the-little-money-you-get-is-half-wasted-because/) [George Holyoake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-holyoake/) > [A great philosopher has stated that the worst evil of poverty is, that it makes folks ridiculous; by which, I hope, he only means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-payn/a-great-philosopher-has-stated-that-the-worst-evil-of-poverty-is-that/) [James Payn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-payn/) > [ Poverty makes people do reckless things, but \[the rich\] do worse to protect their \[interests\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/poverty-makes-people-do-reckless-things-but-the-rich-do-worse-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [“Poverty makes a slave out of men. In order to eat he will accept work that gives no pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/poverty-makes-a-slave-out-of-men-in-order-to-eat-he-will-accept-work/) [André Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Poverty makes you sad as well as wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/poverty-makes-you-sad-as-well-as-wise/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Poverty makes people sub-human Excess of wealth makes people inhuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/poverty-makes-people-sub-human-excess-of-wealth-makes-people-inhuman/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [The Democrat Party makes as many people victims as possible because it freezes them right where they are. And that's usually in lower middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-democrat-party-makes-as-many-people-victims-as-possible-because/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness, and this is the great poverty that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/there-is-hunger-for-ordinary-bread-and-there-is-hunger-for-love-for/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Poverty makes it very difficult in an already competitive world for kids to get on a straight track where they can actually love learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/poverty-makes-it-very-difficult-in-an-already-competitive-world-for/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Poverty makes you wise but it's a curse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/poverty-makes-you-wise-but-it-s-a-curse/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Seeing so much poverty everywhere makes me think that God is not rich. He gives the appearance of it, but I suspect some financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/seeing-so-much-poverty-everywhere-makes-me-think-that-god-is-not-rich/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“se there was a matter of half a ream of brown paper stuck upon me, from first to last. As I laid all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/se-there-was-a-matter-of-half-a-ream-of-brown-paper-stuck-upon-me/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Antoine Rivarol > [The modest man has everything to gain, and the arrogant man everything to lose; for modesty has always to deal with generosity, and arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/the-modest-man-has-everything-to-gain-and-the-arrogant-man-everything/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Youth is not the era of wisdom; let us therefore have due consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/youth-is-not-the-era-of-wisdom-let-us-therefore-have-due-consideration/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Women read each other at a single glance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/women-read-each-other-at-a-single-glance/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Cats don't caress us-they caress themselves on us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/cats-don-t-caress-us-they-caress-themselves-on-us/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Opinions, theories, and systems pass by turns over the grindstone of time, which at first gives them brilliancy and sharpness, but finally wears them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/opinions-theories-and-systems-pass-by-turns-over-the-grindstone-of/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/the-most-civilized-people-are-as-near-to-barbarism-as-the-most/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [The woman who too easily and ardently yielded her devotion will find that its vitality, like a bright fire, soon consumes itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/the-woman-who-too-easily-and-ardently-yielded-her-devotion-will-find/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/of-every-ten-persons-who-talk-about-you-nine-will-say-something-bad/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Familiarity is the root of the closest friendships, as well as the intensest hatreds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/familiarity-is-the-root-of-the-closest-friendships-as-well-as-the/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Speech is external thought, and thought internal speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/speech-is-external-thought-and-thought-internal-speech/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/man-spends-his-life-in-reasoning-on-the-past-in-complaining-of-the/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [The subtle sauce of malice is often indulged in by maidens of uncertain age, over their tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/the-subtle-sauce-of-malice-is-often-indulged-in-by-maidens-of/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [The personal pronoun "I" should be the coat of arms of some individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/the-personal-pronoun-i-should-be-the-coat-of-arms-of-some-individuals/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/the-only-thing-wealth-does-for-some-people-is-to-make-them-worry/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [It is not he who searches for praise who finds it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/it-is-not-he-who-searches-for-praise-who-finds-it/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) [Explore all 60 Antoine Rivarol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) ## More Compensation quotes > [The only place where compensation comes before service is in the dictionary or anywhere the government meddles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-only-place-where-compensation-comes-before-service-is-in-the/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [Today there is no symbolic compensation for old age, no recognition of a specific value: wisdom, perceptiveness, experience, vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/today-there-is-no-symbolic-compensation-for-old-age-no-recognition-of/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Because what happens is, as the economy suffers, tax revenues go down. But unlike businesses, where at least your variable costs go down, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/because-what-happens-is-as-the-economy-suffers-tax-revenues-go-down/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [For the sacrificed, in the hour of sacrifice, only one thing counts: faith-alone among enemies and skeptics. Faith, in spite of the humiliation which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/for-the-sacrificed-in-the-hour-of-sacrifice-only-one-thing-counts/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [“In other words, what we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-other-words-what-we-seek-is-some-kind-of-compensation-for-what-we/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only compensation, gained through the influence of nongovernmental organizations, consisted in slightly broadening for private individuals the possibility of access and appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-cassin/the-only-compensation-gained-through-the-influence-of-nongovernmental/) [Rene Cassin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-cassin/) > [Were God to show grace to all of Adam's descendants, men would at once conclude that He was righteously compelled to take them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/were-god-to-show-grace-to-all-of-adam-s-descendants-men-would-at-once/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [What we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-we-seek-is-some-kind-of-compensation-for-what-we-put-up-with/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [We also have no incentive compensation of any kind. 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