In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Rich people work hard and believe it’s perfectly appropriate to be well rewarded for their efforts and the value they provide for others. Poor people work hard, but due to their feelings of unworthiness, they believe that it is inappropriate for them to be well rewarded for their efforts and the value they provide.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
One of the principles we teach in our programs is “If you shoot for the stars, you’ll at least hit the moon”. Poor people don’t even shoot for the ceiling in their house, and then they wonder why they’re not successful.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Rich people are wiling to act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
It is better to allow our lives to speak for us than our words. God did not bear the cross only two thousand years ago. He bears it today, and he dies and is resurrected from day to day. It would be a poor comfort to the world if it had to depend on a historical God who died two thousand years ago. Do not, then, preach the God of history, but show him as he lives today through you.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If you live according to the dictates of nature, you will never be poor; if according to the notions of man, you will never be rich.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Whatever results you’re getting, be they rich or poor, good or bad, positive or negative, always remember that your outer world is simply a reflection of your inner world. If things aren’t going well in your outer life, it’s because things aren’t going well in your inner life. It’s that simple.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
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”. Rich people understand, “If I become a successful person, I will be able to do what I need to do to have what I want, including a lot of money”.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Rich people see opportunities. Poor people see obstacles. Rich people see potential growth. Poor people see potential loss. Rich people focus on rewards. Poor focus on the risks.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Poor people choose to play the role of the victim.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want. Rich people are totally clear that they want wealth. They are unwavering in their desire. They are fully committed to creating wealth. As long as it’s legal, moral, and ethical, they will do whatever it takes to have wealth. Rich people do not send mixed messages to the universe. Poor people do.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Poor people either mismanage their money or they avoid the subject of money altogether.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; will be in fear when you speak to him; will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. A freeborn man ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living, but poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The unfortunate need people who will be kind to them; the prosperous need people to be kind to.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
There is only one class in the community that thinks more about money than the rich, and that is the poor.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Poverty urges us to do and suffer anything that we may escape from it, and so leads us away from virtue.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Poor people and most of the middle class are not willing to be uncomfortable. Remember, being comfortable is their biggest priority in life… The only time you can actually grow is when you are outside your comfort zone.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
But rich or poor, black or white, none of us are entitled to anything.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
Poor people choose now. Rich people choose balance.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Do you want a successful career or a close relationship with your family? Both! Do you want a focus on business or have fun and play? Both! Do you want money or meaning in your life? Both! Do you want to earn a fortune or do the work you love? Both! Poor people always choose one, rich people choose both.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Rich people believe in themselves. They believe in their value and in their ability to deliver it. Poor people don’t. That’s why they need “guarantees”.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Poor people will do almost anything to avoid problems. They see a challenge and they run … the secret to success, my friends, is not to try to avoid or get rid of or shrink from your problems; the secret is to grow yourself so that you are bigger than your problems.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
It’s a sin to be poor! He wasn’t referring to moral turpitude, but rather to “the frustration of potentiality”. He believed and taught that, when we establish ourselves in the consciousness of God, the whole universe moves to flow into us with its abundance of life and substance. This is obviously what Jesus had in mind when he said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well”.
—Unknown
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 little piece”. Poor people don’t believe they deserve cake, so they order a doughnut, focus on the hole, and wonder why they have “nothing”.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author