---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are only two classes in society…"
description: "\"There are only two classes in society: those who get more than they earn, and those who earn more than they get.\" — Holbrook Jackson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png"
---

#  There are only two classes in society: those who get more…

![“There are only two classes in society: those who get more than they earn, and those who earn more than they get.” quote by Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png)

> “There are only two classes in society: those who get more than they earn, and those who earn more than they get.”

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society is divided between those who spend more than they earn and those who earn more than they spend.

**In simple terms:** Two economic groups: spenders and savers.

Key Takeaway

Aim to earn more than you spend.

Themes

economics social class financial behavior

Mood

analytical critical

Type

economic observational

When to use this quote

- personal finance
- policy making
- education
- investment decisions

Key Concepts

wealth disparity budgeting income inequality

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you manage your income and spending?
- What policies could reduce this divide?

A Different Perspective

Ignores middle ground where many balance income and expenses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Classes Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classes-society-909267/) [Earn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn/) [Earn Earn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn-earn-909268/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Earn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-earn-909266/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/)

## Related quotes

> [All classes of society are trade unionists at heart, and differ chiefly in the boldness, ability, and secrecy with which they pursue their respective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/all-classes-of-society-are-trade-unionists-at-heart-and-differ/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [You're not simply entitled to be an actor - you're not an actor just because you call yourself one - you earn it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-moss/you-re-not-simply-entitled-to-be-an-actor-you-re-not-an-actor-just/)

[Larry Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-moss/)

> [“If you earn little, give little. If you earn much, give much. But even if you earn nothing, try to give something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-earn-little-give-little-if-you-earn-much-give-much-but-even-if/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“To get respect you must earn it first! To earn respect...you must always give it first!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/to-get-respect-you-must-earn-it-first-to-earn-respect-you-must-always/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [We're a working class game and we're lads who've come from nothing and all of a sudden are seen by society to earn an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-barton/we-re-a-working-class-game-and-we-re-lads-who-ve-come-from-nothing/)

[Joey Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-barton/)

> [Aristocrats fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/aristocrats-fear-the-people-and-wish-to-transfer-all-power-to-the/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Abracadabra, thus we learn The more you create, the less you earn. The less you earn, the more you're given, The less you lead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/abracadabra-thus-we-learn-the-more-you-create-the-less-you-earn-the/)

[Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/)

> [Respect is something you earn. You earn it simply by being a real, genuine person at all times. Not being scared to be yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/respect-is-something-you-earn-you-earn-it-simply-by-being-a-real/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Success in the United States is not an entitlement in China. You have to go there and earn it, and earn it the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/success-in-the-united-states-is-not-an-entitlement-in-china-you-have/)

[Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/)

> [Society is made up of two classes those who get more than they earn and those earn more than they get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/society-is-made-up-of-two-classes-those-who-get-more-than-they-earn/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We have power... Our power isn’t in a political system, or a religious system, or in an economic system, or in a military system;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-have-power-our-power-isn-t-in-a-political-system-or-a-religious/)

[John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/)

> [Technological society leads to increasing numbers of people who cannot adapt to the inhuman rhythm of modern life with its emphasis on specialization. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/technological-society-leads-to-increasing-numbers-of-people-who/)

[Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/)

> [“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/never-in-england-were-there-so-many-gentlemen-and-so-little-gentleness/)

[C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/)

> [I will have to earn trust and respect from my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-will-have-to-earn-trust-and-respect-from-my-kids/)

[Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/)

> [“He should earn a puffy-tail for helping and lose it for being mean,” Parker puts in. “At least then he breaks even.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/he-should-earn-a-puffy-tail-for-helping-and-lose-it-for-being-mean/)

[Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/)

## More by Holbrook Jackson

> [Books are never out of humour; never envious or jealous, they answer all questions with readiness; ... they teach us how to live and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/books-are-never-out-of-humour-never-envious-or-jealous-they-answer/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [Those who seek happiness miss it, and those who discuss it, lack it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/those-who-seek-happiness-miss-it-and-those-who-discuss-it-lack-it/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [Suffer fools gladly; they may be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/suffer-fools-gladly-they-may-be-right/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [Great books conserve time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/great-books-conserve-time/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [A large, still book is a piece of quietness, succulent and nourishing in a noisy world, which I approach and imbibe with "a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/a-large-still-book-is-a-piece-of-quietness-succulent-and-nourishing/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [We are more inclined to regret our virtues than our vices; but only the very honest will admit this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/we-are-more-inclined-to-regret-our-virtues-than-our-vices-but-only/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [Forgive everybody but yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/forgive-everybody-but-yourself/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [The poor are the only consistent altruists; they sell all they have and give it to the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/the-poor-are-the-only-consistent-altruists-they-sell-all-they-have/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [People who want to be amused have lost the art of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/people-who-want-to-be-amused-have-lost-the-art-of-living/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [The time to read is any time: no apparatus, no appointment of time and place, is necessary. It is the only art which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/the-time-to-read-is-any-time-no-apparatus-no-appointment-of-time-and/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [The better the book the more room for the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/the-better-the-book-the-more-room-for-the-reader/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [When in doubt, risk it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/when-in-doubt-risk-it/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [Your readiest desire is your path to joy... even if it destroys you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/your-readiest-desire-is-your-path-to-joy-even-if-it-destroys-you/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [Book-love, I say again, lasts throughout life, it never flags or fails, but, like Beauty itself, is a joy forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/book-love-i-say-again-lasts-throughout-life-it-never-flags-or-fails/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

> [The possession of a great many things, even the best of things, tends to blind one to the real value of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/the-possession-of-a-great-many-things-even-the-best-of-things-tends/)

[Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

[Explore all 44 Holbrook Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/)

## More Class quotes

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/)

[David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/)

> [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/)

[Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/)

[H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/)

[Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/)

> [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/)

[Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

> [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

[Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are only two classes in society: those who get more than they earn, and those who earn more than they get.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Holbrook Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-those-who-get-more-than-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Class"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-those-who-get-more-than-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/holbrook-jackson-14988_class_there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-th_1676029.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are only two classes in society: those who get more than they earn, and those who earn more than they…” — Holbrook Jackson",
                "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": "Holbrook Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are only two classes in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-those-who-get-more-than-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/there-are-only-two-classes-in-society-those-who-get-more-than-they/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
