7 Quotes That Summarize Why Some People are Rich and Others are Poor

The responsibility to become successful rests on each individual. A person must invest in themselves positively in order to achieve their dream. Often, there is a misconception that until something happens such as a wage rise or a lottery win, then and only then can we acquire the energy to pursue our dreams. Wale Akinyemi, author of ‘Why some people are rich and others are poor’ reminds us that money is not the solution to our problems. There is an innumerable amount of commitment which one must adopt even as one envisions success. The following are quotes by various personalities who include entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders and philosophers, which summarize why some people are rich and others are poor.
1. If you are born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake- Bill Gates (Business Magnate, Investor, Author, Philanthropist and founder of Microsoft)
This quote implies that, regardless of one’s background, they can still overcome the barriers that impede success. Most people who are born poor tend to subscribe to the notion that the poorer become poorer. However, anyone can be what they want to be in life as long as they give their best shot. To curb poverty, a man needs to seize every opportunity and use it to his advantage.
2. The difference between rich and poor is that the poor do everything with their own hands and the rich hire hands to do things-Betty Smith (American Author)
The rich understand the value of outsourcing work. In doing so, they’re relieved of some responsibilities in order to pursue other activities. A successful business enterprise is one which does not require the physical presence of its founder in order to operate. The rich create teams whom they then equip with the knowhow of the business.
3. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings-Nelson Mandela (First President of South Africa, freedom fighter)
Mandela gave out this quote in a speech titled, ‘Make Poverty History’ rally in London, where he was urging the leaders to eradicate poverty in the United Kingdom. Poverty is a manifestation of certain actions by man. Systems have been put in place and laws enacted which in the long run becomes a barrier to entry for majority of the society members. Additionally, people often shift blame in justifying their status which ultimately becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. People must start making a deliberate commitment to remove the barriers that hinder success.
4. The rich get richer and the poor get children. F Scott Fitzgerald- (An American novelist and a short story writer)
According to the social capillarity theory, the rich continue to climb the social ladder while the poor remain watching. Since the rich do not have many children, they can afford to go for holidays. The poor cannot afford the luxuries and conveniences life offers. The poor man also has a lot of mouths to feed compared to the rich ones. The top priority for a rich man is to increase and guard his assets
5. Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich. -T Harv Eker (business mogul)
Success does not come knocking. You have to go out to pursue it. You have to participate in making your dreams come true. One way to participate is to put in the actual work. If you want to be a writer, write everyday often. If you dream of being a basketball player, get in the court and practice. An artist must draw everyday as the swimmer must hone their skill by swimming every day. Do not just want to be rich, commit to it by putting in actual work. Remember the 10,000 hour rule?
6. The rich invest their money and spend what is left; the poor spend their money and invest what is left -Jim Rohn (American entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker)
The rich seek to consolidate their wealth and maintain their status by saving as much as possible. The poor, on the other hand, only seek to survive and spend on the little they have thereby remain with little to save. A general rule is to save 10-20% of your income. Another rule of thumb is not to stock your savings but also to increase value of those savings through investment.
7. He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has. -Henry Ward Beecher (clergyman, social congressman and speaker)
Legitimate wealth or poverty is manifested in one’s character and behavior often nurtured by one’s mindset. Material possession fade away. One can easily lose his wealth and move from rich to poor in an instant. However, one cannot lose his character, the true representation of being poor or rich. Character is of paramount importance even as one seeks to become wealthy.