Freedom begins when you stop trading time for money. It’s a powerful shift from the employee mindset to building assets that pay you, even while you sleep.
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Meaning
The core message is that true financial and personal freedom isn’t about a higher hourly wage; it’s about breaking the direct link between the hours you work and the money you earn.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. Most people are stuck in what I call the “time-for-money trap.” You work an hour, you get paid for an hour. You stop working, the money stops. It’s a linear equation, and it has a hard ceiling. What Kiyosaki is really getting at here is the fundamental difference between the left side and the right side of his famous CASHFLOW quadrant. On the left, you have Employees and Self-Employed—they are *always* trading time for money. Their income is active. On the right, you have Business Owners and Investors. Their income is passive. They build or acquire systems and assets that generate money independently of their direct, hour-to-hour involvement. That’s the real shift. It’s not about working harder; it’s about building a machine that works for you.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Life (320) |
| Topics | freedom (82), money (27), time (59) |
| Literary Style | poetic (635), simple (291) |
| Emotion / Mood | liberating (29), peaceful (147) |
| Overall Quote Score | 88 (131) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes directly from Robert Kiyosaki’s 2017 book, “Why the Rich Are Getting Richer.” It’s a core tenet of his financial philosophy that he’s been teaching for decades. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments attributed to others, but this specific phrasing is pure Kiyosaki, straight from that text.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert T Kiyosaki (98) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Why the Rich Are Getting Richer (52) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Born in Hilo, Hawaii, Robert T. Kiyosaki graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and served as a Marine Corps helicopter gunship pilot in Vietnam. After stints at Xerox and entrepreneurial ventures, he turned to financial education, co-authoring Rich Dad Poor Dad in 1997 and launching the Rich Dad brand. He invests in real estate and commodities and hosts the Rich Dad Radio Show. The Robert T. Kiyosaki book list spans personal finance classics like Cashflow Quadrant and Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing, along with educational games and seminars.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Freedom begins when you stop trading time for money |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2017, ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781612680811, Last edition: 1st Edition, Number of pages: 256 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 9, The Purpose of Money, page 167 |