---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is few people “think” big and…"
description: "\"The truth is few people “think” big and even fewer “play” big. Why? Because “big” often means big responsibilitie s, big hassles and big problems. They..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png"
---

#  The truth is few people “think” big and even fewer “play”…

![“The truth is few people “think” big and even fewer “play” big. Why? Because “big” often means big responsibilitie s, big hassles and big problems. They look at that “bigness” and shrink. They’re smaller than their problems. They back away from challenges. Ironically, they back themselves into the…” quote by T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png)

> “The truth is few people “think” big and even fewer “play” big. Why? Because “big” often means big responsibilitie s, big hassles and big problems. They look at that “bigness” and shrink. They’re smaller than their problems. They back away from challenges. Ironically, they back themselves into the biggest problem of all ... being broke, or close to it.”

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

## About This Quote

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

People avoid big ambitions because they associate them with heavy responsibilities and problems, leading them to shrink from challenges and create financial difficulty.

**In simple terms:** Big goals feel overwhelming, causing avoidance and financial strain.

Key Takeaway

Embrace responsibility, break big goals into manageable tasks.

Themes

ambition responsibility financial literacy

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- entrepreneurship
- personal finance
- overcoming fear
- budgeting

Key Concepts

psychology risk perception goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- What responsibility could you take today to move toward a big goal?
- How can you reframe big challenges as opportunities?

A Different Perspective

Big ambitions still require resources and support, which may be lacking.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being broke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-broke/) [Big Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-means-5693715/) [Big problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-problem/) [Big problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-problems/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Broke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broke/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Hassle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hassle/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-big-5693714/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-big/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/) [Think big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-big/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/)

## Related quotes

> [Quite simply, if someone tells you often that they're dreaming of, or thinking about, you, it means you're someone they see as a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/quite-simply-if-someone-tells-you-often-that-they-re-dreaming-of-or/)

[Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/)

> [Part of your mission in life then must be to share your gifts with as many people as possible. That means being willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/part-of-your-mission-in-life-then-must-be-to-share-your-gifts-with-as/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [How do you want to live your life? How do you want to play the game? Do you want to play in the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/how-do-you-want-to-live-your-life-how-do-you-want-to-play-the-game-do/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [If you have a big problem in your life, all that means is that you are being a small person!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/if-you-have-a-big-problem-in-your-life-all-that-means-is-that-you-are/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Finally, imagine that you've really worked hard on yourself and become a level 10 person. Now, is this same level 5 problem a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/finally-imagine-that-you-ve-really-worked-hard-on-yourself-and-become/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Losing the future is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/losing-the-future-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [Ghetto people always naming their kids after stuff they cant afford; Mercedes, Bentley, Pearl, Child support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ghetto-people-always-naming-their-kids-after-stuff-they-cant-afford/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ I got tired and embarrassed by the constant poverty of those years. I told Doug \[ Brinkley\] this is really going to be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-got-tired-and-embarrassed-by-the-constant-poverty-of-those-years-i/)

[Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/)

> [Being broke is a very efficient educational agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-lefevre/being-broke-is-a-very-efficient-educational-agency/)

[Edwin Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-lefevre/)

> [Let me tell you something: being broke ain't going to make nobody come to the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/let-me-tell-you-something-being-broke-ain-t-going-to-make-nobody-come/)

[Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/)

> [The best thing that ever happened to me is that nothing happened in writing. I ended up working for engineering companies, and that's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me-is-that-nothing-happened-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [On my first mixtape I didn't have a lot of money so a lot of my stories were about being broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/on-my-first-mixtape-i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-money-so-a-lot-of-my/)

[Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/)

> [There is a difference between broke and being poor. Being broke is a temporary economic condition, but being poor is a disabling frame of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hope-bryant/there-is-a-difference-between-broke-and-being-poor-being-broke-is-a/)

[John Hope Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hope-bryant/)

> [Poor is a state of mind. Broke is a state of wallet. You can fix being broke; it's not so easy to fix being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-edelman/poor-is-a-state-of-mind-broke-is-a-state-of-wallet-you-can-fix-being/)

[Ric Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-edelman/)

> [I would never argue with a bitch over a weak dusty broke ass nigga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-never-argue-with-a-bitch-over-a-weak-dusty-broke-ass-nigga/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by T. Harv Eker

> [“If your motivation for acquiring money or success comes from a nonsupportive root such as fear, anger, or the need to “prove” yourself, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/if-your-motivation-for-acquiring-money-or-success-comes-from-a/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [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/)

> [How you do anything is how you do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/how-you-do-anything-is-how-you-do-everything/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [I promote my value to others with passion and enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/i-promote-my-value-to-others-with-passion-and-enthusiasm/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Get really rich and then help the people who didn't have the opportunity you did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/get-really-rich-and-then-help-the-people-who-didn-t-have-the/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Rich people believe "You can have your cake and eat it too." Middle-class people believe "Cake is too rich, so I'll only have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/rich-people-believe-you-can-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too-middle/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Let me put it bluntly: anyone who says that money isn't important doesn't have any! Rich people understand the importance of money and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/let-me-put-it-bluntly-anyone-who-says-that-money-isn-t-important/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [You will be paid in direct proportion to the value you create in the marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/you-will-be-paid-in-direct-proportion-to-the-value-you-create-in-the/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Research shows that the happiest people are those who use their natural talents to the utmost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/research-shows-that-the-happiest-people-are-those-who-use-their/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [I ask you, what is the use of having your "cake" if you can't eat it? What exactly are you supposed to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/i-ask-you-what-is-the-use-of-having-your-cake-if-you-can-t-eat-it/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [We need to practice acting in spite of fear, in spite of doubt, in spite of worry, in spite of uncertainty, in spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/we-need-to-practice-acting-in-spite-of-fear-in-spite-of-doubt-in/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Rich people expect to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/rich-people-expect-to-succeed/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [If your motivation for acquiring money or success comes from a non-supportive root such as fear, anger or the need to 'prove' yourself, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/if-your-motivation-for-acquiring-money-or-success-comes-from-a-non/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [For the next seven days, I challenge you not to complain at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/for-the-next-seven-days-i-challenge-you-not-to-complain-at-all/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [Saying "I'll start managing my money as soon as I get caught up" is like an overweight person saying "I'll start exercising and dieting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/saying-i-ll-start-managing-my-money-as-soon-as-i-get-caught-up-is/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

[Explore all 241 T. Harv Eker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

## More Being broke quotes

> [I would never argue with a bitch over a weak dusty broke ass nigga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-never-argue-with-a-bitch-over-a-weak-dusty-broke-ass-nigga/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Poor is a state of mind. Broke is a state of wallet. You can fix being broke; it's not so easy to fix being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-edelman/poor-is-a-state-of-mind-broke-is-a-state-of-wallet-you-can-fix-being/)

[Ric Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-edelman/)

> [There is a difference between broke and being poor. Being broke is a temporary economic condition, but being poor is a disabling frame of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hope-bryant/there-is-a-difference-between-broke-and-being-poor-being-broke-is-a/)

[John Hope Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hope-bryant/)

> [On my first mixtape I didn't have a lot of money so a lot of my stories were about being broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/on-my-first-mixtape-i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-money-so-a-lot-of-my/)

[Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/)

> [The best thing that ever happened to me is that nothing happened in writing. I ended up working for engineering companies, and that's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me-is-that-nothing-happened-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [Let me tell you something: being broke ain't going to make nobody come to the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/let-me-tell-you-something-being-broke-ain-t-going-to-make-nobody-come/)

[Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/)

> [Being broke is a very efficient educational agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-lefevre/being-broke-is-a-very-efficient-educational-agency/)

[Edwin Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-lefevre/)

> [ I got tired and embarrassed by the constant poverty of those years. I told Doug \[ Brinkley\] this is really going to be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-got-tired-and-embarrassed-by-the-constant-poverty-of-those-years-i/)

[Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/)

> [Ghetto people always naming their kids after stuff they cant afford; Mercedes, Bentley, Pearl, Child support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ghetto-people-always-naming-their-kids-after-stuff-they-cant-afford/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Losing the future is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/losing-the-future-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [Learn all you can, don't be lazy. Nothing's worse than being stupid. Being broke is bad, but being stupid is what's really bad. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/learn-all-you-can-don-t-be-lazy-nothing-s-worse-than-being-stupid/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [Dear parents, I am fully aware that 'money doesn't grow on trees.' Sincerely, that is why I'm asking you for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-parents-i-am-fully-aware-that-money-doesn-t-grow-on-trees/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The hardest part was when I was in high school not having a job and always being broke. I had to get to auditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/the-hardest-part-was-when-i-was-in-high-school-not-having-a-job-and/)

[Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/)

> [A nigga so broke these days sumbody rob me they just be practicing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-tucker/a-nigga-so-broke-these-days-sumbody-rob-me-they-just-be-practicing/)

[Chris Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-tucker/)

> [I'm not broke but my 'check wallet' light is on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-broke-but-my-check-wallet-light-is-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 58 Being broke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-broke/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The truth is few people “think” big and even fewer “play” big. Why? Because “big” often means big responsibilitie s, big hassles and big problems. They look at that “bigness” and shrink. They’re smaller than their problems. They back away from challenges. Ironically, they back themselves into the biggest problem of all ... being broke, or close to it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "T. Harv Eker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-even-fewer-play-big-why-because/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being broke"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-even-fewer-play-big-why-because/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/t-harv-eker-1285_being-broke_the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-ev_725677.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The truth is few people “think” big and even fewer “play” big. Why? Because “big” often means big…” — T. Harv Eker",
                "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": "T. Harv Eker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The truth is few people “think”...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-even-fewer-play-big-why-because/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/the-truth-is-few-people-think-big-and-even-fewer-play-big-why-because/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```