--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The poor and middle class work for…" description: "\"“The poor and middle class work for money,” he would say. “The rich make money. The more real you think money is, the harder you will work for it. If y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_middle-class_the-poor-and-middle-class-work-for-money_2538048.jpg" --- # The poor and middle class work for money,” he would say… ![“The poor and middle class work for money,” he would say. “The rich make money. The more real you think money is, the harder you will work for it. If you can grasp the idea that money is not real, you will grow richer faster.” quote by Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_middle-class_the-poor-and-middle-class-work-for-money_2538048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_middle-class_the-poor-and-middle-class-work-for-money_2538048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-t-kiyosaki-3248_middle-class_the-poor-and-middle-class-work-for-money_2538048.jpg) > ““The poor and middle class work for money,” he would say. “The rich make money. The more real you think money is, the harder you will work for it. If you can grasp the idea that money is not real, you will grow richer faster.”” [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Viewing money as a construct reduces attachment, allowing smarter financial growth and wealth creation. **In simple terms:** Seeing money as a tool, not reality, helps you grow wealth faster. Key Takeaway Detach emotionally from money to make better financial decisions. Themes wealth mindset financial literacy Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - investing - budgeting - entrepreneurship - education Key Concepts economics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing money as a tool change your spending? - What steps can you take to reduce financial stress? A Different Perspective Money still influences behavior; detachment can be hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grow Richer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-richer-1407176/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Richer Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richer-faster-1407175/) [Say Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-rich-770189/) [Think Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-money/) [Work Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-money/) ## Related quotes > [It is very much easier for a rich man to invest and grow richer than for the poor man to begin investing at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ward-baroness-jackson-of-lodsworth/it-is-very-much-easier-for-a-rich-man-to-invest-and-grow-richer-than/) [Barbara Ward, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ward-baroness-jackson-of-lodsworth/) > [Someone will always be getting richer faster than you. This is not a tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/someone-will-always-be-getting-richer-faster-than-you-this-is-not-a/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Here's one truth that perhaps your typical investment counselor would disagree with: if you're comfortably rich and someone else is getting richer faster than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/here-s-one-truth-that-perhaps-your-typical-investment-counselor-would/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“They get up every day and go work for money, not taking the time to ask the question, ‘Is there another way?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/they-get-up-every-day-and-go-work-for-money-not-taking-the-time-to/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [I don't know what to think of the money. It's kind of mind-boggling. I come from a middle-class, blue-collar family. We've never really had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-burrell/i-don-t-know-what-to-think-of-the-money-it-s-kind-of-mind-boggling-i/) [Pat Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-burrell/) > [I've often looked at the extremes as a way to shed light on the mainstream. Even though everybody says, "Money doesn't buy you happiness,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-greenfield/i-ve-often-looked-at-the-extremes-as-a-way-to-shed-light-on-the/) [Lauren Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-greenfield/) > [“I'll just come right out and say it, rich people have no imagination. They can't even scratch their own asses without a ruler and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-ll-just-come-right-out-and-say-it-rich-people-have-no-imagination/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“I tell you, say the rich, the poor are naught but dirty wind welling in air-shafts over the cinders and droppings of the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-tell-you-say-the-rich-the-poor-are-naught-but-dirty-wind-welling-in/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [All i would like to say is that I'm rich and you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/all-i-would-like-to-say-is-that-i-m-rich-and-you-re-not/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [To people who want to be rich and famous, I'd say, "Get rich first and see if that doesn't cover it."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/to-people-who-want-to-be-rich-and-famous-i-d-say-get-rich-first-and/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [Death is the great equalizer. I've seen that phenomenon many times. I've had people in my classes come to me, men and women over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-needleman/death-is-the-great-equalizer-i-ve-seen-that-phenomenon-many-times-i/) [Jacob Needleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-needleman/) > [My watch say I made it, my chains say I'm rich. Diamonds in my mouth got me talking cash shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waka-flocka-flame/my-watch-say-i-made-it-my-chains-say-i-m-rich-diamonds-in-my-mouth/) [Waka Flocka Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waka-flocka-flame/) > [The Democrats say the rich are rich because they stole all of their money or somehow fleeced the poor for all of their money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-democrats-say-the-rich-are-rich-because-they-stole-all-of-their/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“And they say he’s so rich that he spreads sugar on his honey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-perutz/and-they-say-he-s-so-rich-that-he-spreads-sugar-on-his-honey/) [Leo Perutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-perutz/) > [My watch say I made it, my chains say I'm rich. Diamonds in my mouth got me talking cash s\*\*t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waka-flocka-flame/my-watch-say-i-made-it-my-chains-say-i-m-rich-diamonds-in-my-mouth-2/) [Waka Flocka Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waka-flocka-flame/) ## More by Robert T. Kiyosaki > [“Most people, given more money, only get into more debt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/most-people-given-more-money-only-get-into-more-debt/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Often in the real world, it’s not the smart who get ahead, but the bold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/often-in-the-real-world-it-s-not-the-smart-who-get-ahead-but-the-bold/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Often, they mindlessly repeat what they have been told. Ideas such as “diversify” or “your home is an asset.” “Your home is your biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/often-they-mindlessly-repeat-what-they-have-been-told-ideas-such-as/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“If your mind is open to opposing ideas, your intelligence will go up. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/if-your-mind-is-open-to-opposing-ideas-your-intelligence-will-go-up-if/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Life is much like going to the gym. The most painful part is deciding to go. Once you get past that, it’s easy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/life-is-much-like-going-to-the-gym-the-most-painful-part-is-deciding/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“human’s life is a struggle between ignorance and illumination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/human-s-life-is-a-struggle-between-ignorance-and-illumination/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Rule One. You must know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/rule-one-you-must-know-the-difference-between-an-asset-and-a/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Just as inside every problem lies an opportunity, inside every disappointment lies a priceless gem of wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/just-as-inside-every-problem-lies-an-opportunity-inside-every/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“The main cause of poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance, not the economy or the government or the rich. It’s self-inflicted fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/the-main-cause-of-poverty-or-financial-struggle-is-fear-and-ignorance/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“With small companies, my investment strategy is to be out of the stock in a year. My real estate strategy, on the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/with-small-companies-my-investment-strategy-is-to-be-out-of-the-stock/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“Leadership is what you need to learn next,” he said. “If you’re not a good leader, you’ll get shot in the back, just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/leadership-is-what-you-need-to-learn-next-he-said-if-you-re-not-a/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“terms. The net effect is that I have created $30,000 in my asset column for which I am paid interest, just like a bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/terms-the-net-effect-is-that-i-have-created-30-000-in-my-asset-column/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“reactions and think. That is important. We will always have emotions of fear and greed. From here on in, it’s imperative for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/reactions-and-think-that-is-important-we-will-always-have-emotions-of/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“They spend their lives minding someone else’s business and making that person rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/they-spend-their-lives-minding-someone-else-s-business-and-making/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [“The problem with “secure” investments is that they are often sanitized, that is, made so safe that the gains are less. Most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/the-problem-with-secure-investments-is-that-they-are-often-sanitized/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) [Explore all 128 Robert T. Kiyosaki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) ## More Middle class quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Aristocratic depression has this cosmic dimension to it, where it's asking these big questions about, "Why?" "What is the purpose of all this?" Neuroses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/aristocratic-depression-has-this-cosmic-dimension-to-it-where-it-s/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [The Democrats have been there for working people in our country. That's who we are, trickle-down vs. middle-class economics. That's the major difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-democrats-have-been-there-for-working-people-in-our-country-that/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [If you read the 'Daily Mail,' you would imagine that the British middle classes lead lives of unremitting misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/if-you-read-the-daily-mail-you-would-imagine-that-the-british-middle/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [“They had tried to reproduce their own attitude to life upon the stage, and to dress up as the middle-class English people they actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/they-had-tried-to-reproduce-their-own-attitude-to-life-upon-the-stage/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [I wasn't the smartest in school - I was always sort of middle of the class - but when it came to football, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-wilson/i-wasn-t-the-smartest-in-school-i-was-always-sort-of-middle-of-the/) [Harry Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-wilson/) > [The family of my mother had a lot of money; the family of my father, nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charo/the-family-of-my-mother-had-a-lot-of-money-the-family-of-my-father/) [Charo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charo/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Poor and most middle-class people believe "If I have a lot of money, I could do what I want and I'd be a success."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/poor-and-most-middle-class-people-believe-if-i-have-a-lot-of-money-i/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-dad-was-a-bartender-my-mom-was-a-cashier-a-maid-and-a-stock-clerk/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My father was in real estate, banking, and land management. As family life, it was very conventional, happy, and comfortable. We weren't wealthy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/my-father-was-in-real-estate-banking-and-land-management-as-family/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [When in one area of the world the standard of living and the size of the middle class increases, it is going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/when-in-one-area-of-the-world-the-standard-of-living-and-the-size-of/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) > [The benefit of living in a free society is that we all have the choice to be rich, poor, or middle class. The decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-benefit-of-living-in-a-free-society-is-that-we-all-have-the/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) [Browse all 2,050 Middle class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The poor and middle class work for money,” he would say. “The rich make money. The more real you think money is, the harder you will work for it. If you can grasp the idea that money is not real, you will grow richer faster.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert T. 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