--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only…" description: "\"Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe.\" — Rex Stout" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png" --- # Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe. ![“Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe.” quote by Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png) > “Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe.” [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being broke is a severe setback, not a moral failing, highlighting the impact of poverty. **In simple terms:** Financial loss is a crisis, not a personal flaw. Key Takeaway Seek stability and avoid reckless spending. Themes finance poverty resilience stigma Mood cautious empathetic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - budgeting - debt management - career planning - emergency fund creation Key Concepts economic hardship personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to rebuild after financial loss? - How does society view poverty differently from personal failure? A Different Perspective May understate emotional toll of poverty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catastrophe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) ## Related quotes > [“Not much more than a broke disgrace who's hooked on tonics, so excuse him if his poker face has puke on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-lecture/not-much-more-than-a-broke-disgrace-who-s-hooked-on-tonics-so-excuse/) Hannibal Lecture > [Fascism is the result of the collapse of Europe's spiritual and social order catastrophes broke through the everyday routine which makes men accept existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/fascism-is-the-result-of-the-collapse-of-europe-s-spiritual-and/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [If I wrote at all, I must throw myself headlong into the great political maelstrom, and would of course be swallowed up like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/if-i-wrote-at-all-i-must-throw-myself-headlong-into-the-great/) [Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/) > [There is but a step between a proud man's glory and his disgrace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/there-is-but-a-step-between-a-proud-man-s-glory-and-his-disgrace/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [To those whose God is honor; only disgrace is a sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/to-those-whose-god-is-honor-only-disgrace-is-a-sin/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [Poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/poverty-is-no-disgrace-to-a-man-but-it-is-confoundedly-inconvenient/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [All lies, white or black, disgrace a gentleman, although I grant there is a difference: to say the least of it, it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-marryat/all-lies-white-or-black-disgrace-a-gentleman-although-i-grant-there/) [Frederick Marryat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-marryat/) > [Sometimes one must try anything, it is no disgrace. On the contrary, it is a sign of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/sometimes-one-must-try-anything-it-is-no-disgrace-on-the-contrary-it/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [There is no disgrace in peace. There can never be dishonor in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-llywelyn/there-is-no-disgrace-in-peace-there-can-never-be-dishonor-in-peace/) [Morgan Llywelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-llywelyn/) > [I had the feeling that if I encountered anyone they would intuit my disgrace and would judge me instantly. Nothing is more isolating than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-had-the-feeling-that-if-i-encountered-anyone-they-would-intuit-my/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [He will be the last to discover the disgrace of his house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/he-will-be-the-last-to-discover-the-disgrace-of-his-house/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“a little modesty averts disgrace”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bemy-wells/a-little-modesty-averts-disgrace/) [Bemy Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bemy-wells/) > [Poverty of course is no disgrace, but it is damned annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt/poverty-of-course-is-no-disgrace-but-it-is-damned-annoying/) [William Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt/) > [Losing is no disgrace if you've given your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-palmer/losing-is-no-disgrace-if-you-ve-given-your-best/) [Jim Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-palmer/) > [To what will love not stoop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-what-will-love-not-stoop/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## More by Rex Stout > [A person who does not read cannot think. He may have good mental processes, but he has nothing to think about. You can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/a-person-who-does-not-read-cannot-think-he-may-have-good-mental/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [If I'm home with no chore at hand, and a package of books has come, the television set and the chess board and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/if-i-m-home-with-no-chore-at-hand-and-a-package-of-books-has-come-the/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [To say that man is a reasoning animal is a very different thing than to say that most of man's decisions are based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/to-say-that-man-is-a-reasoning-animal-is-a-very-different-thing-than/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“Frankly, I wish I could make my heart quit doing an extra thump when Wolfe says satisfactory, Archie. It's childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/frankly-i-wish-i-could-make-my-heart-quit-doing-an-extra-thump-when/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [What good is an obscenity trial except to popularize literature?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/what-good-is-an-obscenity-trial-except-to-popularize-literature/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [In a world that operates largely at random, coincidences are to be expected, but any one of them must always be mistrusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/in-a-world-that-operates-largely-at-random-coincidences-are-to-be/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“everything from war to picnics depends on the weather, as Wolfe remarked”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/everything-from-war-to-picnics-depends-on-the-weather-as-wolfe/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [The more you put in your brain, the more it will hold -- if you have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/the-more-you-put-in-your-brain-the-more-it-will-hold-if-you-have-one/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“When we turned right on Thirty-fifth Street our suffix came along. 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I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [At least I'm not a celebrity and if I was, the whole world would have known that I broke up with my girlfriend last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/at-least-i-m-not-a-celebrity-and-if-i-was-the-whole-world-would-have/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [When I was 17, I broke up with my future wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/when-i-was-17-i-broke-up-with-my-future-wife/) [Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/) > [Nothing is really broke, so it's not like I can fix it. I just have to keep trying to find what I'm looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/nothing-is-really-broke-so-it-s-not-like-i-can-fix-it-i-just-have-to/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [You're the one who broke my heart you're the reason my world fell apart you're the one who made me cry and I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-the-one-who-broke-my-heart-you-re-the-reason-my-world-fell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother loved my father. From my view, she let him get away with too much. It broke my heart to see him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/my-mother-loved-my-father-from-my-view-she-let-him-get-away-with-too/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I broke up with my first girlfriend because I was out of love. I was crushing so hard on her for a whole year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-and-the-queens/i-broke-up-with-my-first-girlfriend-because-i-was-out-of-love-i-was/) [Christine and the Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-and-the-queens/) > [You have to be nicer to me," I said. Again he laughed. "What? I'm the King of nice. What are you talking about?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/you-have-to-be-nicer-to-me-i-said-again-he-laughed-what-i-m-the-king/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [If you sleep now tomorrow you will be broke, Work hard now and sleep later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-d/if-you-sleep-now-tomorrow-you-will-be-broke-work-hard-now-and-sleep/) G-Fwea D > [IMAGINE if Facebook, Twitter, and msn all broke at the same time. We might have to actually get lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brown-ladyy/imagine-if-facebook-twitter-and-msn-all-broke-at-the-same-time-we/) Brown Ladyy > [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The man who begins to speculate in stocks with the intention of making a fortune usually goes broke, whereas the man who trades with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dow/the-man-who-begins-to-speculate-in-stocks-with-the-intention-of/) [Charles Dow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dow/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) Browse all 2,091 Broke quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rex Stout" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only-a-catastrophe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Broke" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only-a-catastrophe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/rex-stout-2846_broke_being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only_2005756.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe.” — Rex Stout", "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": "Rex Stout", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being broke is not a disgrace,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only-a-catastrophe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/being-broke-is-not-a-disgrace-it-is-only-a-catastrophe/#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 } } ] } ```