--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd rather be smart and poor than rich…" description: "\"I'd rather be smart and poor than rich and dumb.\" — Ted Turner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg" --- # I'd rather be smart and poor than rich and dumb. ![“I'd rather be smart and poor than rich and dumb.” quote by Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg) > “I'd rather be smart and poor than rich and dumb.” [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing intellect over wealth leads to a more meaningful life than material riches without wisdom. **In simple terms:** Being smart and poor is better than rich and dumb. Key Takeaway Value intellect over money. Themes wisdom wealth values Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - financial planning - personal development - education decisions Key Concepts intellectual humility materialism Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice for knowledge? - How does wealth affect decision making? A Different Perspective Money cannot substitute for critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-smart/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poor rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-rich/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [“He was a nice guy, Jimmy, but rich or not he was dumb as a bag of retards, and smoking all that weed didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/he-was-a-nice-guy-jimmy-but-rich-or-not-he-was-dumb-as-a-bag-of/) [Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/) > [The world is full of smart, poor people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-world-is-full-of-smart-poor-people/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [For those who say you're thinking too big... be smart enough not to listen. For those who say the odds are too small ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/for-those-who-say-you-re-thinking-too-big-be-smart-enough-not-to/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [Don't be smart. Smart is only a polished version of dumb. Try intelligence. It will surely see you through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/don-t-be-smart-smart-is-only-a-polished-version-of-dumb-try/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [All my serving utensils are measured. It's not obvious, because they're really beautiful, but I have the option of tracking what I'm eating. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vincent/all-my-serving-utensils-are-measured-it-s-not-obvious-because-they-re/) [Ali Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vincent/) > [Each practitioner thinks there's one magic way to get a machine to be smart, and so they're all wasting their time in a sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/each-practitioner-thinks-there-s-one-magic-way-to-get-a-machine-to-be/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [It's always better to be wise than to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-s-always-better-to-be-wise-than-to-be-smart/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I know it sounds weird, but my definition of 'sexy' has changed as I've gotten older. And being smart and informed makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-know-it-sounds-weird-but-my-definition-of-sexy-has-changed-as-i-ve/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I learned just to be a belligerent asshole, which was really: "You have to get what you need to get out of it." You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-learned-just-to-be-a-belligerent-asshole-which-was-really-you-have/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [If you're stupid enough to whiff, you should be smart enough to forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/if-you-re-stupid-enough-to-whiff-you-should-be-smart-enough-to-forget/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [For the past few years, I've been more selective than I have any right to be, but I think that's finally starting to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/for-the-past-few-years-i-ve-been-more-selective-than-i-have-any-right/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [To be smart, spend carefully. To be wise, save regularly. To be genius, give extravagantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/to-be-smart-spend-carefully-to-be-wise-save-regularly-to-be-genius/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [I hated grunge. No one’s more feminist than me, but you don’t have to look as if you don’t give a - you know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-hated-grunge-no-one-s-more-feminist-than-me-but-you-don-t-have-to/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Listen! Say less rather than more. If you want to be smart, play stupid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-rubinstein/listen-say-less-rather-than-more-if-you-want-to-be-smart-play-stupid/) [Helena Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-rubinstein/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More by Ted Turner > [Jesus Christ would have been considered just another long-haired hippie freak if he hadn't been crucified. The folks weren't impressed with healing the sick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/jesus-christ-would-have-been-considered-just-another-long-haired/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [The worst sin, the ultimate sin for me, in anything, is to be bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-worst-sin-the-ultimate-sin-for-me-in-anything-is-to-be-bored/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I was pretty young when I figured out that tying shoes could waste up three years of my life, so I dont wear shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-was-pretty-young-when-i-figured-out-that-tying-shoes-could-waste-up/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I've got a virtually limitless supply of bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-ve-got-a-virtually-limitless-supply-of-bullshit/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [Struggling hard to achieve something is the most fun I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/struggling-hard-to-achieve-something-is-the-most-fun-i-get/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [Basically we are chimpanzees with about two percent more intelligence and a little less hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/basically-we-are-chimpanzees-with-about-two-percent-more-intelligence/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I love CNN. I love the Cartoon Network. I mean, I thought these things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-love-cnn-i-love-the-cartoon-network-i-mean-i-thought-these-things-up/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [If you treat people with dignity, respect and friendliness, you can turn enemies into friends. An enemy is nothing but a friend in disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/if-you-treat-people-with-dignity-respect-and-friendliness-you-can/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I've always tried to do the smartest and best thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-ve-always-tried-to-do-the-smartest-and-best-thing/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [My son is now an 'entrepreneur.' That's what you're called when you don't have a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/my-son-is-now-an-entrepreneur-that-s-what-you-re-called-when-you-don/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I don't watch entertainment. I haven't watched in years. I want to see serious news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-don-t-watch-entertainment-i-haven-t-watched-in-years-i-want-to-see/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [ The next most dangerous thing \[after nuclear proliferation\] is probably... global warming, and then, right behind that are overpopulation -- we need to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-next-most-dangerous-thing-after-nuclear-proliferation-is-probably/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [At Time Warner, I had ten percent of the stock after the merger. But when we merged with AOL, I was diluted down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/at-time-warner-i-had-ten-percent-of-the-stock-after-the-merger-but/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [Nuclear war would really set back cable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/nuclear-war-would-really-set-back-cable/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I was cable when cable wasn't cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-was-cable-when-cable-wasn-t-cool/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) [Explore all 150 Ted Turner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) ## More Being smart quotes > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Listen! Say less rather than more. If you want to be smart, play stupid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-rubinstein/listen-say-less-rather-than-more-if-you-want-to-be-smart-play-stupid/) [Helena Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-rubinstein/) > [I hated grunge. No one’s more feminist than me, but you don’t have to look as if you don’t give a - you know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-hated-grunge-no-one-s-more-feminist-than-me-but-you-don-t-have-to/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [To be smart, spend carefully. To be wise, save regularly. To be genius, give extravagantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/to-be-smart-spend-carefully-to-be-wise-save-regularly-to-be-genius/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [For the past few years, I've been more selective than I have any right to be, but I think that's finally starting to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/for-the-past-few-years-i-ve-been-more-selective-than-i-have-any-right/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [If you're stupid enough to whiff, you should be smart enough to forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/if-you-re-stupid-enough-to-whiff-you-should-be-smart-enough-to-forget/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I learned just to be a belligerent asshole, which was really: "You have to get what you need to get out of it." You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-learned-just-to-be-a-belligerent-asshole-which-was-really-you-have/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [I know it sounds weird, but my definition of 'sexy' has changed as I've gotten older. And being smart and informed makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-know-it-sounds-weird-but-my-definition-of-sexy-has-changed-as-i-ve/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [It's always better to be wise than to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-s-always-better-to-be-wise-than-to-be-smart/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Each practitioner thinks there's one magic way to get a machine to be smart, and so they're all wasting their time in a sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/each-practitioner-thinks-there-s-one-magic-way-to-get-a-machine-to-be/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [All my serving utensils are measured. It's not obvious, because they're really beautiful, but I have the option of tracking what I'm eating. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vincent/all-my-serving-utensils-are-measured-it-s-not-obvious-because-they-re/) [Ali Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vincent/) > [We should all feel confident in our intelligence. By the way, intelligence to me isn't just being book-smart or having a college degree; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-coffey/we-should-all-feel-confident-in-our-intelligence-by-the-way/) [Tabatha Coffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-coffey/) > [Calling someone fat wont make you any skinnier, calling someone dumb dosnt make you any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mean-girls/calling-someone-fat-wont-make-you-any-skinnier-calling-someone-dumb/) [Mean Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mean-girls/) > [The way to win is to work, work, work, work and hope to have a few insights And you're probably not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-way-to-win-is-to-work-work-work-work-and-hope-to-have-a-few/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [What we are saying is we have to be smart about the ideology that is putting this idea into the world that a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asra-nomani/what-we-are-saying-is-we-have-to-be-smart-about-the-ideology-that-is/) [Asra Nomani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asra-nomani/) [Browse all 243 Being smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-smart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd rather be smart and poor than rich and dumb.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Turner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-and-dumb/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being smart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-and-dumb/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/ted-turner-2784_being-smart_i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-a_1647180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd rather be smart and poor than rich and dumb.” — Ted Turner", "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": "Ted Turner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd rather be smart and poor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-and-dumb/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-d-rather-be-smart-and-poor-than-rich-and-dumb/#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 } } ] } ```