--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been poor and I've been rich, and…" description: "\"I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is better.\" — Bessie Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png" --- # I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is better. ![“I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is better.” quote by Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png) > “I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is better.” [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth often brings comfort, but the statement overlooks the complexities of poverty and richness. **In simple terms:** Richness feels better, but poverty has its own value. Key Takeaway Recognize privilege and stay empathetic. Themes wealth poverty empathy Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - financial planning - charitable work - career advancement - personal growth Key Concepts social inequality personal experience Questions to Reflect On - What does wealth mean to you beyond money? - How can you use privilege to help others? A Different Perspective Wealth does not guarantee happiness; poverty can foster resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-better-298216/) [Rich Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-rich/) [Ve Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-rich-739604/) ## Related quotes > [“I've been rich and I've been poor, and rich is better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-rich-and-i-ve-been-poor-and-rich-is-better/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“I've been been rich I've been poor Rich is better I've been young I've been old Young is better”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/i-ve-been-been-rich-i-ve-been-poor-rich-is-better-i-ve-been-young-i/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [I've been rich and I've been poor. Rich is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-tucker/i-ve-been-rich-and-i-ve-been-poor-rich-is-better/) [Sophie Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-tucker/) > [I have been poor and I have been rich. Rich is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-tucker/i-have-been-poor-and-i-have-been-rich-rich-is-better/) [Sophie Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-tucker/) > [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [I've been broke more than I've been rich. I like being in the middle way better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reagan-gomez-preston/i-ve-been-broke-more-than-i-ve-been-rich-i-like-being-in-the-middle/) [Reagan Gomez-Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reagan-gomez-preston/) > [I've been rich and I've been poor. It's better to be rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-ve-been-rich-and-i-ve-been-poor-it-s-better-to-be-rich/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“You are not the poor trying to be rich! You are the rich discovering your inheritance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-are-not-the-poor-trying-to-be-rich-you-are-the-rich-discovering/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [There are people who want to become rich; they become rich. If you persist you can fulfill any kind of stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/there-are-people-who-want-to-become-rich-they-become-rich-if-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Rich is not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-carter/rich-is-not-better/) [Nell Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-carter/) > [“I knew what it was like to be poor, and that once you had become rich, anything was better than being poor again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-alexandra/i-knew-what-it-was-like-to-be-poor-and-that-once-you-had-become-rich/) [Belinda Alexandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-alexandra/) > [Cute is good, rich is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cute-is-good-rich-is-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Richard didn't mind Gwyn being rich...Having always been poor was good preparation for being rich. Better than having always been rich...The well and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/richard-didn-t-mind-gwyn-being-rich-having-always-been-poor-was-good/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“I have been rich, and I have been poor. Believe me baby, rich is better!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/i-have-been-rich-and-i-have-been-poor-believe-me-baby-rich-is-better/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) ## More by Bessie Smith > [I don't want no drummer. I set the tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-don-t-want-no-drummer-i-set-the-tempo/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [The Greatest Blues Singer in the World Will Never Stop Singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/the-greatest-blues-singer-in-the-world-will-never-stop-singing/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [Listen to my story and everything will come out true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/listen-to-my-story-and-everything-will-come-out-true/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [I need a little sugar in my bowl and a little hot dog in my roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-need-a-little-sugar-in-my-bowl-and-a-little-hot-dog-in-my-roll/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [No time to marry, no time to settle down; I'm a young woman, and I ain't done runnin' around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/no-time-to-marry-no-time-to-settle-down-i-m-a-young-woman-and-i-ain-t/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [It's a long old road, but I know I'm gonna find the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/it-s-a-long-old-road-but-i-know-i-m-gonna-find-the-end/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [When my bed is empty, Makes me feel awful mean and blue. My springs are getting rusty, Living single like I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/when-my-bed-is-empty-makes-me-feel-awful-mean-and-blue-my-springs-are/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [I ain't good-lookin', but I'm somebody's angel child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-ain-t-good-lookin-but-i-m-somebody-s-angel-child/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [“You been a good old wagon but Daddy you gone done broke down”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/you-been-a-good-old-wagon-but-daddy-you-gone-done-broke-down/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) > [There's nineteen men livin' in my neighborhood, Eighteen of them are fools and the one ain't no doggone good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/there-s-nineteen-men-livin-in-my-neighborhood-eighteen-of-them-are/) [Bessie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) [Explore all 11 Bessie Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bessie Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-rich-is-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-rich-is-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/bessie-smith-39742_been_i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-ri_1667457.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is better.” — Bessie Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bessie Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessie-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been poor and I've been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-rich-is-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessie-smith/i-ve-been-poor-and-i-ve-been-rich-and-rich-is-better/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```