--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real income inequality is what we used to…" description: "\"Real income inequality is what we used to call striving and working hard to get ahead. Striving, educating ourselves, getting up and going to work, pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/rush-limbaugh-28_ambition_real-income-inequality-is-what-we-used-t_2886796.jpg" --- # Real income inequality is what we used to call striving… ![“Real income inequality is what we used to call striving and working hard to get ahead. Striving, educating ourselves, getting up and going to work, preparing, using our ambition, and, in that process, some people earned more and earned it sooner than others.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/rush-limbaugh-28_ambition_real-income-inequality-is-what-we-used-t_2886796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/rush-limbaugh-28_ambition_real-income-inequality-is-what-we-used-t_2886796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/rush-limbaugh-28_ambition_real-income-inequality-is-what-we-used-t_2886796.jpg) > “Real income inequality is what we used to call striving and working hard to get ahead. Striving, educating ourselves, getting up and going to work, preparing, using our ambition, and, in that process, some people earned more and earned it sooner than others.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic disparity arises from differing levels of effort, ambition, and opportunity, rewarding those who strive harder. **In simple terms:** Hard work leads to higher earnings. Key Takeaway Encourage ambition and perseverance. Themes economics inequality effort ambition Mood critical reflective Type analytical questioning When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - education - policy debates Key Concepts meritocracy social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What role does privilege play? - Can effort alone ensure fairness? A Different Perspective Ignores systemic barriers and inherited advantages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Get ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-ahead/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Income inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income-inequality/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Inequality Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality-used-4031873/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-earned-3173295/) [Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-income-2697511/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Working hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-hard/) ## Related quotes > [Most of my life, everybody made more money than I did at the places I worked. In fact, when I've been an employee, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/most-of-my-life-everybody-made-more-money-than-i-did-at-the-places-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [After adjusting for inflation, the average income of the top 5% of households grew by 38% from 1989 to 2013. By comparison, the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/after-adjusting-for-inflation-the-average-income-of-the-top-5-of/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [“The real income reported on federal tax returns by the vast majority of Americans, the 90 percent, doubled between the end of the war and 1973.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cay-johnston/the-real-income-reported-on-federal-tax-returns-by-the-vast-majority/) [David Cay Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cay-johnston/) > [“This was the beginning of real income for McDonald’s. Harry devised a formula for the monthly payments being made by our operators that paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/this-was-the-beginning-of-real-income-for-mcdonald-s-harry-devised-a/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [In return, society rewards those who give it what it wants. That is why how much money people have earned is a rough measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/in-return-society-rewards-those-who-give-it-what-it-wants-that-is-why/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Independence is never given to a people, it has to be earned; and, once earned, must be defended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-weizmann/independence-is-never-given-to-a-people-it-has-to-be-earned-and-once/) [Chaim Weizmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-weizmann/) > [I take pride in taking the hard road and prove to people I earned it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-ellenberger/i-take-pride-in-taking-the-hard-road-and-prove-to-people-i-earned-it/) [Jake Ellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-ellenberger/) > [Share with people who have earned the right to hear your story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/share-with-people-who-have-earned-the-right-to-hear-your-story/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [There can be no return to prosperity while the government (of Ontario) believes that taking money from the people who have earned it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/there-can-be-no-return-to-prosperity-while-the-government-of-ontario/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [If you really want to end income inequality, I've got the way to fix it. People who don't work shouldn't get any income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-really-want-to-end-income-inequality-i-ve-got-the-way-to-fix/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What the Democrats do with income inequality is punish the people at the top of whatever bracket we're talking about. If it's income, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-the-democrats-do-with-income-inequality-is-punish-the-people-at/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Liberals talk about the 'income inequality' and the 'unfairness' and the disparity of the haves and the have-nots in New York City. Who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/liberals-talk-about-the-income-inequality-and-the-unfairness-and-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-this-world-get-a-lawyer-not-a-book/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Prejudice against womenis many, many times intensified against older women. You are viewed not as an intellect but as a body… Astonishingly, even women's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-guggenheimer/prejudice-against-womenis-many-many-times-intensified-against-older/) [Elinor Guggenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-guggenheimer/) > [Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/getting-ahead-in-a-difficult-profession-requires-avid-faith-in/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Real income inequality is what we used to call striving and working hard to get ahead. 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