---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easy to have principles when you're…"
description: "\"It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.\" — Ray Kroc"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg"
---

#  It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The…

![“It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.” quote by Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg)

> “It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.”

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

## About This Quote

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

Principles are easy when wealthy; true character shows when resources are scarce.

**In simple terms:** Principles matter most in hardship.

Key Takeaway

Maintain values regardless of financial status.

Themes

integrity wealth poverty principles character

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical motivational

When to use this quote

- financial loss
- personal hardship
- career downturns

Key Concepts

ethical consistency social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What principles will you uphold if you lose wealth?
- How can you support others in poverty?

A Different Perspective

Economic pressure can tempt compromise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-success/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Easy Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-principles-1850342/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Mcdonalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mcdonalds/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-poor-1850343/) [Principles Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-rich-1850341/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-important-1049463/) [Self improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-improvement/)

## Related quotes

> [Its easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/its-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re-rich-the-important-thing-is/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [Never underestimate the power of being popular in pop culture. You have to be able to do something. You can have a good seat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/never-underestimate-the-power-of-being-popular-in-pop-culture-you/)

[Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/)

> [My mother always says people should be able to take care of themselves, even if they're rich and important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/my-mother-always-says-people-should-be-able-to-take-care-of/)

[Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/)

> [To be rich is important, but to be rich when you are poor is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-be-rich-is-important-but-to-be-rich-when-you-are-poor-is-very/)

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

> [We are certainly influenced by role models, and if we are surrounded by images of beautiful rich people, we will start to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-are-certainly-influenced-by-role-models-and-if-we-are-surrounded/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [Fame is important, but to be rich is more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/fame-is-important-but-to-be-rich-is-more-important/)

[Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/)

> [The McDonald brothers were simply not on my wavelength at all. I was obsessed with the idea of making McDonald's the biggest and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/the-mcdonald-brothers-were-simply-not-on-my-wavelength-at-all-i-was/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [Perfection is very difficult to achieve, and perfection was what I wanted in McDonald's. Everything else was secondary for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/perfection-is-very-difficult-to-achieve-and-perfection-was-what-i/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [McDonald's is a people business, and that smile on that counter girl's face when she takes your order is a vital part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/mcdonald-s-is-a-people-business-and-that-smile-on-that-counter-girl-s/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun. Yet is it any more unusual to find grace in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-requires-a-certain-kind-of-mind-to-see-beauty-in-a-hamburger-bun-2/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [I like to get people fired up, fill them with zeal for McDonald's, and watch the results in their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-like-to-get-people-fired-up-fill-them-with-zeal-for-mcdonald-s-and/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [Visions of McDonald's restaurants dotting crossroads all over the country paraded through my brain. I don't believe in saturation. We're thinking and talking worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/visions-of-mcdonald-s-restaurants-dotting-crossroads-all-over-the/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-requires-a-certain-kind-of-mind-to-see-beauty-in-a-hamburger-bun/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [I believe in God, family, and McDonald's. And in the office, that order is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-believe-in-god-family-and-mcdonald-s-and-in-the-office-that-order/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/)

[T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/)

## More by Ray Kroc

> [I believe in God, family, and McDonald's. And in the office, that order is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-believe-in-god-family-and-mcdonald-s-and-in-the-office-that-order/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [“The best part of it for me personally was that every time I saw a new Walgreen’s store going up it meant new business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/the-best-part-of-it-for-me-personally-was-that-every-time-i-saw-a-new/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [Creativity is a highfalutin' word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/creativity-is-a-highfalutin-word-for-the-work-i-have-to-do-between/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [“We started Franchise Realty Corporation with $1,000 paid-in capital, and Harry parlayed that cash investment into something like $170 million worth of real estate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/we-started-franchise-realty-corporation-with-1-000-paid-in-capital/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [“One man's famine makes another man's feast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/one-man-s-famine-makes-another-man-s-feast/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-requires-a-certain-kind-of-mind-to-see-beauty-in-a-hamburger-bun/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [“I was about to lose one of my biggest accounts, Walgreens, the people I had created a tremendous amount of business for and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-was-about-to-lose-one-of-my-biggest-accounts-walgreens-the-people-i/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [If any of my competitors were drowning, I'd stick a hose in their mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/if-any-of-my-competitors-were-drowning-i-d-stick-a-hose-in-their-mouth/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [“One time a McDonald’s operator came to me with the idea he’d dreamed up to cut costs by producing a doughnut-shaped patty. His notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/one-time-a-mcdonald-s-operator-came-to-me-with-the-idea-he-d-dreamed/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [All money means to me is a pride in accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/all-money-means-to-me-is-a-pride-in-accomplishment/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [I wasn't prepared for this big room with clattering typewriters and teletype printers. You could hardly hear yourself think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-wasn-t-prepared-for-this-big-room-with-clattering-typewriters-and/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [There’s almost nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/there-s-almost-nothing-you-can-t-accomplish-if-you-set-your-mind-to-it/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [If any of my competitors were drowning, I'd stick a hose in their mouth and turn on the water. It is ridiculous to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/if-any-of-my-competitors-were-drowning-i-d-stick-a-hose-in-their/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [“the basics have to be stressed over and over. If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase QSC and V…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/the-basics-have-to-be-stressed-over-and-over-if-i-had-a-brick-for/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

> [No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/no-self-respecting-pitcher-throws-the-same-way-to-every-batter-and-no/)

[Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

[Explore all 137 Ray Kroc quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/)

## More Business success quotes

> [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [“What is happening on the inside, is reflected on the outside. If you lack the confidence, you very well may feel pushy in selling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/what-is-happening-on-the-inside-is-reflected-on-the-outside-if-you/)

[Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/)

> [“A small businesses ability to gain an edge for a profitable niche is not by just focusing on the dynamic market gap, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/a-small-businesses-ability-to-gain-an-edge-for-a-profitable-niche-is/)

[Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/)

> [Paper is no longer a big part of my day. I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/paper-is-no-longer-a-big-part-of-my-day-i-get-90-of-my-news-online/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/)

[Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/)

> [It used to be that companies with industrial economies of scale created business success. Now, success will come from the information economies of scale,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/it-used-to-be-that-companies-with-industrial-economies-of-scale/)

[Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/)

> [“Affirmation without discipline is like enthusiasm without direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/affirmation-without-discipline-is-like-enthusiasm-without-direction/)

[Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/)

> [The biggest risk is not taking any risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-biggest-risk-is-not-taking-any-risk/)

[Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/)

> [Having created a business that is a success, when you are in a nepotistic situation, people who don't do anything themselves, well, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-chatwal/having-created-a-business-that-is-a-success-when-you-are-in-a/)

[Vikram Chatwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-chatwal/)

> [“Instead of hiding under the covers, let’s do something about it. Maybe you’re not feeling this way today, but you might tomorrow. So now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liesha-petrovich/instead-of-hiding-under-the-covers-let-s-do-something-about-it-maybe/)

[Liesha Petrovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liesha-petrovich/)

> [“We all need salespeople with humility, honesty, integrity, empathy and an old-fashioned work ethic that ensures the job gets done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/we-all-need-salespeople-with-humility-honesty-integrity-empathy-and/)

[Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/)

> [“Creating awareness about what motivates us gives us the greater knowledge to choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/creating-awareness-about-what-motivates-us-gives-us-the-greater/)

[Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/)

> [When management and labor (employer and employee) both understand they are all on the same side, then each will prosper more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-management-and-labor-employer-and-employee-both-understand-they/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [Success takes an investment in time, dedication, and sacrifice. This is true education. It is a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/success-takes-an-investment-in-time-dedication-and-sacrifice-this-is/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [Success in business hinges mostly on the ability to get the important things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/success-in-business-hinges-mostly-on-the-ability-to-get-the-important/)

[William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/)

[Browse all 408 Business success quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-success/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ray Kroc"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re-rich-the-important-thing-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business success"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re-rich-the-important-thing-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/ray-kroc-3141_business-success_it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re_1779577.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's easy to have principles when you're rich. The important thing is to have principles when you're poor.” — Ray Kroc",
                "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": "Ray Kroc",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's easy to have principles when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re-rich-the-important-thing-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-s-easy-to-have-principles-when-you-re-rich-the-important-thing-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
