--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line is that if I did it, you…" description: "\"The bottom line is that if I did it, you can do it. I got rich without the benefit of a college education or a penny of capital but making many errors ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/felix-dennis-3862_being-rich_the-bottom-line-is-that-if-i-did-it-you_2045392.jpg" --- # The bottom line is that if I did it, you can do it. I got… ![“The bottom line is that if I did it, you can do it. I got rich without the benefit of a college education or a penny of capital but making many errors along the way. I went from being a pauper.. a hippie dropout on the dole, living in a crummy room without the proverbial pot to piss in, without…” quote by Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/felix-dennis-3862_being-rich_the-bottom-line-is-that-if-i-did-it-you_2045392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/felix-dennis-3862_being-rich_the-bottom-line-is-that-if-i-did-it-you_2045392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/felix-dennis-3862_being-rich_the-bottom-line-is-that-if-i-did-it-you_2045392.jpg) > “The bottom line is that if I did it, you can do it. I got rich without the benefit of a college education or a penny of capital but making many errors along the way. I went from being a pauper.. a hippie dropout on the dole, living in a crummy room without the proverbial pot to piss in, without even the money to pay the rent, without a clue as to what to do next.. to being rich..” [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and perseverance can overcome lack of formal education and capital, despite many mistakes. **In simple terms:** Hard work can replace formal education and money. Key Takeaway Persist despite setbacks. Themes perseverance self‑made success overcoming adversity Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - starting a business - career change - financial independence - overcoming poverty Key Concepts entrepreneurship self‑reliance learning from failure Questions to Reflect On - What resources could have accelerated your success? - How do you handle setbacks today? A Different Perspective Success may still require networking and resources not mentioned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-rich/) [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-education/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Hippie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hippie/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [God wants us to show compassion and understanding toward the unemployed or the poor not because they are poor, but because poor people, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/god-wants-us-to-show-compassion-and-understanding-toward-the/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) > [The free market is 'socialism' for the rich: the public pays the costs and the rich get the benefit - markets for the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-free-market-is-socialism-for-the-rich-the-public-pays-the-costs/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Atlanta repper in the home of the yankees. Rose wood suit on with the hanky, I got rich from the zones of the stanky.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyhi-da-prynce/atlanta-repper-in-the-home-of-the-yankees-rose-wood-suit-on-with-the/) [Cyhi Da Prynce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyhi-da-prynce/) > [I hear all this, you know, 'Well, this is class warfare, this is whatever.' No. There is nobody in this country who got rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-hear-all-this-you-know-well-this-is-class-warfare-this-is-whatever/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I met so many people after I got rich and famous, and I learned that you can't ultimately trust people unless they were your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/i-met-so-many-people-after-i-got-rich-and-famous-and-i-learned-that/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [People think I got rich out of 'Swan ,but I didn't at all: it's the royalties from 'Oliver' and 'My Fair Lady' that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bourne/people-think-i-got-rich-out-of-swan-but-i-didn-t-at-all-it-s-the/) [Matthew Bourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bourne/) > [No one ever got rich checking their email more often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kagan/no-one-ever-got-rich-checking-their-email-more-often/) [Noah Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kagan/) > [As soon as I got rich, it was mimosas every morning. I was taking my friends to Six Flags every weekend. We were flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blackbear/as-soon-as-i-got-rich-it-was-mimosas-every-morning-i-was-taking-my/) [Blackbear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blackbear/) > [“It is often said of the gold rush that the people who got rich were the shovel dealers who profited from the greed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-bissonnette/it-is-often-said-of-the-gold-rush-that-the-people-who-got-rich-were/) Zac Bissonnette > [So much to write and say, yo I don't know where to start. So I'll begin with the basics and flow from the heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/so-much-to-write-and-say-yo-i-don-t-know-where-to-start-so-i-ll-begin/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [We ain't picture perfect but we worth the picture still. I got smart, I got rich, and I got bitches still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/we-ain-t-picture-perfect-but-we-worth-the-picture-still-i-got-smart-i/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [I'm delighted about the track's success in the sports world, but the frustrating thing is, I don't think I got rich on it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-parsons/i-m-delighted-about-the-track-s-success-in-the-sports-world-but-the/) [Alan Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-parsons/) > [This is an absolute law: You've got to be rich inside to become and remain rich outside. Become rich inside and your mental equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/this-is-an-absolute-law-you-ve-got-to-be-rich-inside-to-become-and/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [No one got rich on a government program. Do not choose to be a common man. You can be uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/no-one-got-rich-on-a-government-program-do-not-choose-to-be-a-common/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [When most people are unhappy customers, they get mad; I try to get rich. All of my businesses started the same way: I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/when-most-people-are-unhappy-customers-they-get-mad-i-try-to-get-rich/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) ## More by Felix Dennis > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [It's a long, slow sunset for ink-on-paper magazines, but sunsets can produce vast sums of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/it-s-a-long-slow-sunset-for-ink-on-paper-magazines-but-sunsets-can/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I love the business of business; I love the risk raking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-love-the-business-of-business-i-love-the-risk-raking/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [People really do not have time to read all the newspapers in the world and all the sites that we now commonly use on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/people-really-do-not-have-time-to-read-all-the-newspapers-in-the/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Fear not. For fear itself is fed by fear, and all fears pass. Did no one tell you so? Come take my hand, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/fear-not-for-fear-itself-is-fed-by-fear-and-all-fears-pass-did-no-one/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [False praise is worse than no praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/false-praise-is-worse-than-no-praise/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > ['The Week' is my favourite magazine. Everyone from presidents to CEOs of companies love it, politicians, people in the massive charity business in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/the-week-is-my-favourite-magazine-everyone-from-presidents-to-ceos-of/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Talent is indispensable, although it is 'always' replaceable. Just remember the simple rules concerning talent: Identify It, Hire It, Nurture It, Reward It, Protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/talent-is-indispensable-although-it-is-always-replaceable-just/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I cannot abide being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-cannot-abide-being-bored/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Publishing magazines for yourself is not good business, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/publishing-magazines-for-yourself-is-not-good-business-man/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Posthumous reputations have little to do with real lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/posthumous-reputations-have-little-to-do-with-real-lives/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Good ideas are like Nike sports shoes. They may facilitate success for an athlete who possesses them, but on their own they are nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/good-ideas-are-like-nike-sports-shoes-they-may-facilitate-success-for/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [The best thing about being immensely wealthy is not having to be in any particular place at any particular time doing a particular task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/the-best-thing-about-being-immensely-wealthy-is-not-having-to-be-in/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [What is negotiation but the accumulation of small lies leading to advantage?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/what-is-negotiation-but-the-accumulation-of-small-lies-leading-to/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Obviously, waste disposal is an enormous and fantastic industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/obviously-waste-disposal-is-an-enormous-and-fantastic-industry/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Explore all 120 Felix Dennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) ## More Being rich quotes > [“It is okay to be rich, but it is great to be a person of value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-is-okay-to-be-rich-but-it-is-great-to-be-a-person-of-value/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [For me this was never a money issue, it was about being rich in your heart. To come home, and to be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/for-me-this-was-never-a-money-issue-it-was-about-being-rich-in-your/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [It's not about being rich, but everyone back home has a pool. And I was a total water baby. My mom couldn't get me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/it-s-not-about-being-rich-but-everyone-back-home-has-a-pool-and-i-was/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [I was obsessed with being rich and famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lynde/i-was-obsessed-with-being-rich-and-famous/) [Paul Lynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lynde/) > [Abundance is about being rich, with or without money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/abundance-is-about-being-rich-with-or-without-money/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [Birthdays was the worst days, now we sip champagne when we're thirstay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biggie-smalls/birthdays-was-the-worst-days-now-we-sip-champagne-when-we-re-thirstay/) [Biggie Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biggie-smalls/) > [Starting a business is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. In mid air, the entrepreneur begins building a parachute and hopes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/starting-a-business-is-like-jumping-out-of-an-airplane-without-a/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Anne is very forgiving. She doesn't care about money, being rich, or clothes. We never argued about finances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stiller/anne-is-very-forgiving-she-doesn-t-care-about-money-being-rich-or/) [Jerry Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stiller/) > [Celebrity doesn't have anything to do with art or craft. It's about being rich and thinking that you're better than everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/celebrity-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-art-or-craft-it-s-about/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I suppose that the main benefit of being rich (over just being independent) is to be able to despise rich people (a good concentration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/i-suppose-that-the-main-benefit-of-being-rich-over-just-being/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Inside each of us is a David and a Goliath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/inside-each-of-us-is-a-david-and-a-goliath/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I think it's misleading to think that art is only there for escapism, only there for our dreams of being rich and f -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-think-it-s-misleading-to-think-that-art-is-only-there-for-escapism/) [Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/) > [There aren't many downsides to being rich, other than paying taxes and having relatives asking for money. But being famous, that's a 24 hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/there-aren-t-many-downsides-to-being-rich-other-than-paying-taxes-and/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/have-compassion-for-all-beings-rich-and-poor-alike-each-has-their/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Interesting thing about being rich is once you pay your taxes, you're still rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/interesting-thing-about-being-rich-is-once-you-pay-your-taxes-you-re/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) [Browse all 98 Being rich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-rich/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bottom line is that if I did it, you can do it. I got rich without the benefit of a college education or a penny of capital but making many errors along the way. 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