--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who want to act rich when they're…" description: "\"People who want to act rich when they're upper-middle class. They try too hard.\" — John Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/john-waters-751_middle-class_people-who-want-to-act-rich-when-they-re_1284938.jpg" --- # People who want to act rich when they're upper-middle… ![“People who want to act rich when they're upper-middle class. They try too hard.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/john-waters-751_middle-class_people-who-want-to-act-rich-when-they-re_1284938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/john-waters-751_middle-class_people-who-want-to-act-rich-when-they-re_1284938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/john-waters-751_middle-class_people-who-want-to-act-rich-when-they-re_1284938.jpg) > “People who want to act rich when they're upper-middle class. They try too hard.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Upper‑middle‑class individuals try to appear wealthy, but their efforts feel forced. **In simple terms:** People often over‑act wealth to seem richer. Key Takeaway Authenticity outweighs pretension. Themes social status class perception authenticity Mood critical humorous Type social cultural When to use this quote - social gatherings - online profiles - dating scenes Key Concepts sociology cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What drives the need to appear richer? - How can authenticity be encouraged? A Different Perspective Attempting to seem rich can backfire socially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-rich-4165575/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-want/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Upper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-upper-4165576/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [It took me a while to figure it out, but to have a real hit on Broadway, you have to get the respected Broadway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/it-took-me-a-while-to-figure-it-out-but-to-have-a-real-hit-on/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Rich people believe "You can have your cake and eat it too." 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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/) > [I want to play in a place people want to hear me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-allison/i-want-to-play-in-a-place-people-want-to-hear-me/) [Luther Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-allison/) > [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/) > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [I don't wanna discuss about it - People who want to discuss about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-don-t-wanna-discuss-about-it-people-who-want-to-discuss-about-it/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. 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They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. 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