The love of money is the root of Meaning Factcheck Usage

Meaning

It’s a dual critique: one, that an unhealthy obsession with wealth corrupts, and two, that the desperate scarcity of it can be just as destructive.

Explanation

Let me break this down for you. We’ve all heard the original, right? “The love of money is the root of all evil.” It’s a warning against greed. But Kiyosaki’s genius is in adding that second layer. He’s saying, look, while greed is bad, so is poverty. The lack of money—the stress, the fear, the limitations—it forces people into terrible decisions, kills dreams, and creates its own kind of evil. It’s not the money itself, but our relationship with it, whether we have too much of a toxic love for it or are being crushed by its absence, that’s the real problem. It’s a mindset game.

Origin & Factcheck

This specific two-part formulation comes directly from Robert Kiyosaki’s 1997 personal finance classic, Rich Dad Poor Dad. It’s crucial to note he was riffing on, and correcting in his view, the famous biblical verse (1 Timothy 6:10). A common misconception is that the Bible says “money is the root,” but it specifically says the *love* of money. Kiyosaki just took it a step further.

Context

In the book, this idea is the core of the “Rich Dad’s” philosophy, contrasting with the “Poor Dad’s” more traditional, and financially limiting, beliefs. It’s used to explain why simply working for a paycheck and fearing risk leads to a financial trap, while understanding money as a tool leads to freedom.

Usage Examples

So when do you use this? I’ve found it’s perfect for a few key conversations.

• For the aspiring entrepreneur who’s paralyzed by the fear of financial loss. You can say, “Look, don’t be greedy, but understand that playing it too safe and staying in a state of lack is its own risk.”
• In a team meeting about company values and compensation. It helps frame the discussion around building wealth responsibly versus just chasing a dollar.
• With a friend stuck in a dead-end job they hate purely for the paycheck. It opens up a conversation about whether their “love” for that security is actually the thing holding them back from a more fulfilling path.

Common questions

Question: Is Kiyosaki saying poverty is evil?
Answer: Not exactly. He’s saying the *state* of lacking money creates immense pressure that can lead people to make decisions they otherwise wouldn’t—that’s the “evil” or negative outcome he’s referring to.

Question: Does this justify greed?
Answer: Absolutely not. The quote is a paradox, holding both extremes as dangerous. The ideal is a healthy respect for money as a tool, free from both obsession and desperation.

Question: Who is the main audience for this quote?
Answer: Honestly, anyone feeling stuck in their financial life. It’s for the employee, the entrepreneur, the recent grad—anyone trying to reframe their entire mindset about what money is and isn’t.