You can only be rich if you first learn… it sounds simple, but that’s the whole game. It’s not about the money you have, it’s about the mental software you’re running. Let’s break down why this mindset shift is everything.
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Meaning
The core message here is that wealth is an inside job. It’s a specific mindset focused on creating and leveraging assets, not just earning a higher salary.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen it a thousand times. People think if they just land that big promotion or get a lucky break, they’ll be rich. But that’s putting the cart before the horse. Kiyosaki is arguing that your external reality is a direct reflection of your internal financial blueprint.
Thinking like the rich means you stop seeing yourself as an employee and start seeing yourself as an owner. You stop asking “How much does it pay?” and start asking “What is this asset worth?” You see debt differently—not all debt is bad; some debt can be leveraged to acquire income-producing assets. It’s a complete paradigm shift from a consumer mindset to an investor and creator mindset. The money follows the mindset, not the other way around.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (4154) |
| Category | Wealth (122) |
| Topics | mindset (145), rich (1), thinking (20) |
| Literary Style | direct (448), simple (309) |
| Emotion / Mood | encouraging (329), realistic (403) |
| Overall Quote Score | 79 (250) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Robert T. Kiyosaki’s 2015 book, Why the Rich Are Getting Richer. It’s a core tenet of his entire “Rich Dad” philosophy. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments misattributed to other finance gurus, but the specific phrasing and the underlying “financial education first” principle is pure Kiyosaki.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert T Kiyosaki (152) |
| Source Type | Book (4785) |
| Source/Book Name | Why the Rich Are Getting Richer (52) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1995) |
| Original Language | English (4154) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4785) |
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 | You can only be rich if you first learn to think like the rich |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2017, ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781612680811, Last edition: 1st Edition, Number of pages: 256 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 1, The Rich Mindset, page 18 |