--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many people are so poor because the only…" description: "\"Many people are so poor because the only thing they have is money.\" — John Spence" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png" --- # Many people are so poor because the only thing they have… ![“Many people are so poor because the only thing they have is money.” quote by John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png) > “Many people are so poor because the only thing they have is money.” [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often equate wealth with overall well, overlooking non‑material resources that sustain life. **In simple terms:** Wealth isn’t the only measure of poverty. Key Takeaway Recognize and value non‑financial assets. Themes poverty wealth values Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - financial planning - community support - mental health - education - policy making Key Concepts human capital social capital well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What non‑financial resources do you have? - How can you leverage them? A Different Perspective Money alone cannot solve all problems; systemic issues persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Causes of poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-of-poverty/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money can't buy happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-can-t-buy-happiness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-poor/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-thing-638327/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Thing Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-money-270865/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes people are so poor because the only thing they have is MONEY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/sometimes-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only-thing-they-have-is-money/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [“Some of my friends are very poor, the only thing that they have is money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-coelho/some-of-my-friends-are-very-poor-the-only-thing-that-they-have-is/) [Paul Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-coelho/) > [Some people are so poor, all they have is their money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/some-people-are-so-poor-all-they-have-is-their-money/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [“It was a poor thing she felt for anyone to be born a foreigner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-was-a-poor-thing-she-felt-for-anyone-to-be-born-a-foreigner/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [My Hinduism must be a very poor thing if it cannot flourish even under the most adverse influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-hinduism-must-be-a-very-poor-thing-if-it-cannot-flourish-even/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Democracy is a poor system; the only thing that can be said for it is that it's eight times as good as any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/democracy-is-a-poor-system-the-only-thing-that-can-be-said-for-it-is-2/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [A poor thing, perhaps, but my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-poor-thing-perhaps-but-my-own/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“My life is a poor thing, but it is yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-life-is-a-poor-thing-but-it-is-yours/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [a self-made martyr is a poor thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/a-self-made-martyr-is-a-poor-thing/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Our humanity is a poor thing, except for the divinity that stirs within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/our-humanity-is-a-poor-thing-except-for-the-divinity-that-stirs/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [It's a poor thing to be sane!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-woods-winnicott/it-s-a-poor-thing-to-be-sane/) [Donald Woods Winnicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-woods-winnicott/) > [“Poor thing, consigned to a life of frivolousness and wretched things for breakfast. Not allowed to go to school or do anything worthwhile, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/poor-thing-consigned-to-a-life-of-frivolousness-and-wretched-things/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [Poor thing. To die and never see Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/poor-thing-to-die-and-never-see-brooklyn/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [It is a poor thing to fear that which is inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/it-is-a-poor-thing-to-fear-that-which-is-inevitable/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [It's unrealistic to think you can only have one good product. People are not that poor. They can buy what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gurley-brown/it-s-unrealistic-to-think-you-can-only-have-one-good-product-people/) [Helen Gurley Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gurley-brown/) ## More by John Spence > [When someone tells you, "You've changed," it might simply be because you've stopped living your life their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/when-someone-tells-you-you-ve-changed-it-might-simply-be-because-you/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [People do what seems easy and convenient, not what is best for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/people-do-what-seems-easy-and-convenient-not-what-is-best-for-them/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Remember: everyone you meet is fighting a mighty battle. Be kind. Be understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/remember-everyone-you-meet-is-fighting-a-mighty-battle-be-kind-be/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Saying someone is ugly doesn't make you any prettier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/saying-someone-is-ugly-doesn-t-make-you-any-prettier/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Whatever you fill your brain with and whoever you spend your time with... will determine your life a decade from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/whatever-you-fill-your-brain-with-and-whoever-you-spend-your-time/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Your Day Is Your Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/your-day-is-your-life/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [In life, if you don't risk anything, you risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/in-life-if-you-don-t-risk-anything-you-risk-everything/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [If you tell the truth, it becomes a part of your past. If you lie, it becomes a part of your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/if-you-tell-the-truth-it-becomes-a-part-of-your-past-if-you-lie-it/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [You become what you focus on and like the people you spend time with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/you-become-what-you-focus-on-and-like-the-people-you-spend-time-with/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [We are the producers of our own thinking. Thought is not something that happens to us, but something that we do to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/we-are-the-producers-of-our-own-thinking-thought-is-not-something/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [All that you achieve and all that you fail to achieve are the direct results of your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/all-that-you-achieve-and-all-that-you-fail-to-achieve-are-the-direct/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [We often talk to ourselves in ways that we would never let a stranger or even a friend talk to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/we-often-talk-to-ourselves-in-ways-that-we-would-never-let-a-stranger/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Build your house on the rock of learning; no one can take your education away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/build-your-house-on-the-rock-of-learning-no-one-can-take-your/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [What you do today determines who you will be tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/what-you-do-today-determines-who-you-will-be-tomorrow/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [My definition of success: When your core values and self-concept are in harmony with your daily actions and behaviors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/my-definition-of-success-when-your-core-values-and-self-concept-are/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) [Explore all 28 John Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) ## More Causes of poverty quotes > [There are no causes of poverty. It is the rest state, that which happens when you don't do anything. If you want to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madsen-pirie/there-are-no-causes-of-poverty-it-is-the-rest-state-that-which/) [Madsen Pirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madsen-pirie/) > [Rich people invest money and poor people spend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-cardone/rich-people-invest-money-and-poor-people-spend-it/) [Grant Cardone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-cardone/) > [Because there is global insecurity, nations are engaged in a mad arms race, spending billions of dollars wastefully on instruments of destruction, when millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/because-there-is-global-insecurity-nations-are-engaged-in-a-mad-arms/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [The root cause of poverty is social injustice and the bad government that abets it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-root-cause-of-poverty-is-social-injustice-and-the-bad-government/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Government programs aim at getting money for poor people. Our hope was that knowledge would in the long run be more useful, provide more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-hess/government-programs-aim-at-getting-money-for-poor-people-our-hope-was/) [Karl Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-hess/) > [Poverty is about low, self-esteem and a lack of role models and opportunities. Without money, people resort to de-dignifying activities in order to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hope-bryant/poverty-is-about-low-self-esteem-and-a-lack-of-role-models-and/) [John Hope Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hope-bryant/) > [For what you call the Law is but a club of the rich over the lowest of men, sanctifying the conquest of the earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrard-winstanley/for-what-you-call-the-law-is-but-a-club-of-the-rich-over-the-lowest/) [Gerrard Winstanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrard-winstanley/) > [The dirty truth is that the rich are the great cause of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-dirty-truth-is-that-the-rich-are-the-great-cause-of-poverty/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [People say that the monetary system produces incentive. This may be true in limited areas, but it also produces greed, embezzlement, corruption, pollution, jealousy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/people-say-that-the-monetary-system-produces-incentive-this-may-be/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Corruption is a major cause of poverty as well as a barrier to overcoming it, .. The two scourges feed off each other, locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eigen/corruption-is-a-major-cause-of-poverty-as-well-as-a-barrier-to/) [Peter Eigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eigen/) > [The main cause of poverty is self-inflicted fear and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-main-cause-of-poverty-is-self-inflicted-fear-and-ignorance/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [One would have thought that it was even more necessary to limit population than property; and that the limit should be fixed by calculating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/one-would-have-thought-that-it-was-even-more-necessary-to-limit/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Playing it safe and taking no risks is a shortcut to poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-belfort/playing-it-safe-and-taking-no-risks-is-a-shortcut-to-poverty/) [Jordan Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-belfort/) > [One of the primary reasons why people struggle financially is because they cannot control their emotion of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/one-of-the-primary-reasons-why-people-struggle-financially-is-because/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The main cause of poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance, not the economy or the government or the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-main-cause-of-poverty-or-financial-struggle-is-fear-and-ignorance-2/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) [Browse all 31 Causes of poverty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-of-poverty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many people are so poor because the only thing they have is money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Spence" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only-thing-they-have-is-money/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Causes of poverty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only-thing-they-have-is-money/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/john-spence-21666_causes-of-poverty_many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only_1812463.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many people are so poor because the only thing they have is money.” — John Spence", "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": "John Spence", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many people are so poor because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only-thing-they-have-is-money/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/many-people-are-so-poor-because-the-only-thing-they-have-is-money/#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 } } ] } ```