You know, I’ve seen this play out so many times. “The poor stay poor because they see obstacles” is really about the mindset gap that separates financial outcomes. It’s not about intelligence or even hard work, but about the mental framework you use to interpret the world.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote is about the fundamental difference in perception. It argues that your financial destiny is shaped more by what you choose to focus on—the roadblocks or the open roads—than by the circumstances themselves.
Explanation
Let me break this down. Having worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, I can tell you this is painfully accurate. It’s a pattern. When a person with a scarcity mindset looks at a new venture, their brain immediately goes to “What if I fail? I don’t have the money. I don’t have the time. It’s too risky.” They see a wall. But the person with an abundance mindset? They look at the exact same situation and their brain fires with “How could I make this work? Who could I partner with? What’s the first step?” They see a door in that wall. It’s not that the obstacles aren’t real. They are. But the opportunity-seeker is trained to look past them, to deconstruct the problem into manageable parts. The obstacle-seeker gets paralyzed by the sheer size of the challenge. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Business (233) |
| Topics | attitude (43), growth (413), perception (39) |
| Literary Style | memorable (234) |
| Emotion / Mood | energetic (79), optimistic (116) |
| Overall Quote Score | 85 (305) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Robert Kiyosaki’s 2015 book, “Why the Rich Are Getting Richer.” It’s a core tenet of his financial philosophy. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments misattributed to other self-help gurus, but this specific phrasing is pure Kiyosaki, building on the “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” foundation he’s been teaching for decades.
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 | The poor stay poor because they see obstacles. The rich become rich because they see opportunities |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2017, ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781612680811, Last edition: 1st Edition, Number of pages: 256 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 3, Seeing Opportunities, page 51 |