--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first theory is that if we make the…" description: "\"The first theory is that if we make the rich richer, somehow they will let a part of their prosperity trickle down to the rest of us. The second theory..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_average_the-first-theory-is-that-if-we-make-the_1052694.jpg" --- # The first theory is that if we make the rich richer… ![“The first theory is that if we make the rich richer, somehow they will let a part of their prosperity trickle down to the rest of us. The second theory was the theory that if we make the average of mankind comfortable and secure, their prosperity will rise upward through the ranks.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_average_the-first-theory-is-that-if-we-make-the_1052694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_average_the-first-theory-is-that-if-we-make-the_1052694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_average_the-first-theory-is-that-if-we-make-the_1052694.jpg) > “The first theory is that if we make the rich richer, somehow they will let a part of their prosperity trickle down to the rest of us. The second theory was the theory that if we make the average of mankind comfortable and secure, their prosperity will rise upward through the ranks.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Two economic ideas: trickle‑down wealth versus uplifting the average citizen to raise overall prosperity. **In simple terms:** Different paths to economic growth. Key Takeaway Consider policies that benefit all levels. Themes economics inequality policy Mood analytical thoughtful Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - budget planning - social welfare programs Key Concepts trickle‑down theory middle‑class uplift wealth distribution Questions to Reflect On - Which approach best reduces poverty? - How to balance growth with equity? A Different Perspective Each theory has contested outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Trickle down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trickle-down/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“Let your prosperity reflect the good you contribute to the world" ~ Meriflor Toneatto”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meriflor-toneatto/let-your-prosperity-reflect-the-good-you-contribute-to-the-world/) Meriflor Toneatto > [There is a theory that basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer protections and give more and more to the most, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-a-theory-that-basically-says-that-we-can-shred-regulations/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ This is a guy \[Steven Lerner\] who believes, for example, that Reaganomics or trickle-down economics means, "The rich got rich by stealing from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/this-is-a-guy-steven-lerner-who-believes-for-example-that-reaganomics/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The perfect bacon sandwich is on white bread, very soft and very thick. 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That is not how we grow the economy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-call-it-donald-s-trump-plan-trumped-up-trickle-down-because-that-s/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [ \[Donald\] Trump and all the Republicans believe in the theory of trickle down economics which is a theory discredited even by the author himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/donald-trump-and-all-the-republicans-believe-in-the-theory-of-trickle/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [ Fares are higher \[and\] people don't travel as much. 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Enriching corporations - as the TPP would - will not necessarily help those in the middle, let alone those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trickle-down-economics-is-a-myth-enriching-corporations-as-the-tpp/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The Democrats have been there for working people in our country. That's who we are, trickle-down vs. middle-class economics. That's the major difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-democrats-have-been-there-for-working-people-in-our-country-that/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. 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