--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As for money - when I have it, it's…" description: "\"As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.\" — Gil Scott-Heron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg" --- # As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I… ![“As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.” quote by Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg) > “As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.” [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Financial hardship drives resourcefulness; diverse jobs build resilience. **In simple terms:** Need forces creativity and varied work. Key Takeaway Cultivate adaptability and resourcefulness. Themes resilience resourcefulness work ethic poverty Mood determined inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job hunting - gig economy - career transitions - financial planning Key Concepts survival strategies economic mobility self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay adaptable in financial strain? - What skills help you pivot jobs? A Different Perspective Economic systems can limit opportunities; exploitation risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardener/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [Everything important I learned, I learned as a dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/everything-important-i-learned-i-learned-as-a-dishwasher/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [You wouldn't put your soul in a dishwasher!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaharu-morimoto/you-wouldn-t-put-your-soul-in-a-dishwasher/) [Masaharu Morimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaharu-morimoto/) > [I live in, literally, the same home when I was swiping my first bank card and wondering if I'd have to put back the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-live-in-literally-the-same-home-when-i-was-swiping-my-first-bank/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [You're only as much as you settle for. If they settle for being somebody's dishwasher that's their own f\*\*\*ing problem. If you don't settle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/you-re-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for-if-they-settle-for-being/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [The society, is, a dishwasher, where all the water, is, dead chipmunk blood. God I'm brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/the-society-is-a-dishwasher-where-all-the-water-is-dead-chipmunk/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I'm a very good dishwasher. I'm a terrible cook. I'm an awful cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-m-a-very-good-dishwasher-i-m-a-terrible-cook-i-m-an-awful-cook/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [“You emptied the top rack of the dishwasher but not the bottom, so the clean dishes have gotten all mixed up with the dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/you-emptied-the-top-rack-of-the-dishwasher-but-not-the-bottom-so-the/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [My family keeps me pretty grounded. Like if I try anything diva, they're like, 'Oh shut up. Go and do the dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/my-family-keeps-me-pretty-grounded-like-if-i-try-anything-diva-they/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [Multi-Choice question: My dishwasher is: efficient; hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/multi-choice-question-my-dishwasher-is-efficient-hilarious/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Babies aren't dishwasher-safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/babies-aren-t-dishwasher-safe/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [YOU are using a frisbee as a plate." "Uh, what? I'm not using a--oh hang on, this is a frisbee. Weird." Victor glared at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/you-are-using-a-frisbee-as-a-plate-uh-what-i-m-not-using-a-oh-hang-on/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [My coolest job was when I was 12 and I was a dishwasher at the Three Pigs Bar-B-Que for $2.50 an hour. All the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/my-coolest-job-was-when-i-was-12-and-i-was-a-dishwasher-at-the-three/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) > [I don't function well in chaos, whether it be my sheets or the dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/i-don-t-function-well-in-chaos-whether-it-be-my-sheets-or-the/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [If you want a reliable tip, drive into a town, go to the nearest appliance store and seek out the dishwasher repair man. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-q-miller/if-you-want-a-reliable-tip-drive-into-a-town-go-to-the-nearest/) Bryan Q. Miller > [I'm not a dishwasher anymore. But I'm still from Sangamon Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-dishwasher-anymore-but-i-m-still-from-sangamon-street/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gil Scott-Heron > [Oftentimes, the way it seems to be is that our artists in particular point themselves out as spokesmen for a certain constituency in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/oftentimes-the-way-it-seems-to-be-is-that-our-artists-in-particular/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I was one of the first three black students to go to an all-white school in Tennessee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-was-one-of-the-first-three-black-students-to-go-to-an-all-white/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [A good poet feels what his community feels. Like if you stub your toe, the rest of your body hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/a-good-poet-feels-what-his-community-feels-like-if-you-stub-your-toe/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I find it not just strange but almost ridiculous that people could take a song like the one I was doing and interpret it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-find-it-not-just-strange-but-almost-ridiculous-that-people-could/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [Womenfolk raised me and I was full-grown before I knew I came from a broken home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/womenfolk-raised-me-and-i-was-full-grown-before-i-knew-i-came-from-a/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [If you aren't having no fun, die, because you're running a worthless program, far as I'm concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/if-you-aren-t-having-no-fun-die-because-you-re-running-a-worthless/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I have a novel that I can write. It's about three soldiers from Somalia. Some babies have been disappearing up on 144th Street, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-have-a-novel-that-i-can-write-it-s-about-three-soldiers-from/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [ I work hard at it \[delivery of lyrics\], just like I worked hard at getting my masters degree. It's not just something I sit… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-work-hard-at-it-delivery-of-lyrics-just-like-i-worked-hard-at/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [Your life has to consist of more than 'Black people should unite.' You hope they do, but not twenty-four hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/your-life-has-to-consist-of-more-than-black-people-should-unite-you/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [You should be able to do anything you can afford as an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/you-should-be-able-to-do-anything-you-can-afford-as-an-adult/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [You know what has made me the happiest I've ever been? Seeing my son and daughter graduate from college. More than wanting them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/you-know-what-has-made-me-the-happiest-i-ve-ever-been-seeing-my-son/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I've always had questions about what it meant to be a protester, to be in the minority. Are the people who are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-ve-always-had-questions-about-what-it-meant-to-be-a-protester-to-be/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I was a piano player before I was a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-was-a-piano-player-before-i-was-a-poet/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I cannot afford to watch Fox News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-cannot-afford-to-watch-fox-news/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I think a whole lot of stuff gets by people - I could name half a dozen groups that do songs that are openly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-think-a-whole-lot-of-stuff-gets-by-people-i-could-name-half-a-dozen/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) [Explore all 71 Gil Scott-Heron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) ## More Cleaner quotes > [Well, you know I have an office, my film offices. So I know that syndrome. I fancy offices, so there must be something wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/well-you-know-i-have-an-office-my-film-offices-so-i-know-that/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I am Woman, here me roar...of is that my vacuum cleaner?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carpenter/i-am-woman-here-me-roar-of-is-that-my-vacuum-cleaner/) [Liz Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carpenter/) > [I sort of took the literal term of 'The Cleaner,' and I started bringing janitorial items to the ring with me, so I took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-omega/i-sort-of-took-the-literal-term-of-the-cleaner-and-i-started-bringing/) [Kenny Omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-omega/) > [“In a society that prioritizes man’s health, a cleaner is more important than a lawyer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/in-a-society-that-prioritizes-man-s-health-a-cleaner-is-more/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Americans get it. They're ready for some opportunities to have greener communities, to have cleaner communities, and to have transportation options that perhaps they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-abbott/americans-get-it-they-re-ready-for-some-opportunities-to-have-greener/) [Greg Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-abbott/) > [A good place to meet a man is at the dry cleaner. These men usually have jobs and bathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/a-good-place-to-meet-a-man-is-at-the-dry-cleaner-these-men-usually/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [“If Val hadn’t been there, I’m not sure if I could have made it. Her chatter kept my mind off how much I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-a-wilson/if-val-hadn-t-been-there-i-m-not-sure-if-i-could-have-made-it-her/) P.A. Wilson > [It's not about composition. It's the way you feel about how your objects should relate to each other. I've got lots of African statues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/it-s-not-about-composition-it-s-the-way-you-feel-about-how-your/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [We believe widespread adoption of home solar will significantly improve life in cities by phasing out polluting coal plants, eliminating miles of ugly new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-jurich/we-believe-widespread-adoption-of-home-solar-will-significantly/) [Lynn Jurich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-jurich/) > [As we settle into 2013, I predict this: We'll see companies that promote this shift from private ownership thrive. More people will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-jurich/as-we-settle-into-2013-i-predict-this-we-ll-see-companies-that/) [Lynn Jurich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-jurich/) > [I'm a great cleaner. I'm actually kind of addicted to cleaning. I could clean anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-m-a-great-cleaner-i-m-actually-kind-of-addicted-to-cleaning-i-could/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [“Junkoust cleaner is meant to increase memory space and optimise PC. It is the best cleaner for your PC. The full, paid version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim/junkoust-cleaner-is-meant-to-increase-memory-space-and-optimise-pc-it/) [Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim/) > [The majority of Afghans do not see the Americans as foreign occupiers who must be defeated. Instead, they are hungry for the Americans to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/the-majority-of-afghans-do-not-see-the-americans-as-foreign-occupiers/) [Gayle Tzemach Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/) > [Cutting edge technologies have allowed us to utilize coal's diverse potentials. Not only are we using coal in cleaner and more environmentally sound methods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-roskam/cutting-edge-technologies-have-allowed-us-to-utilize-coal-s-diverse/) [Peter Roskam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-roskam/) > [“Rich can live better than poor but they cannot live without poor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/rich-can-live-better-than-poor-but-they-cannot-live-without-poor/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) Browse all 74 Cleaner quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gil Scott-Heron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-when-i-don-t-i-go-get-some-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleaner" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-when-i-don-t-i-go-get-some-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/gil-scott-heron-9568_cleaners_as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-w_1069717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener…” — Gil Scott-Heron", "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": "Gil Scott-Heron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As for money - when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-when-i-don-t-i-go-get-some-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-when-i-don-t-i-go-get-some-i/#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 } } ] } ```