Robert Kiyosaki Says These 3 Phrases Can Keep People Poor
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, is again focusing on the psychology behind personal wealth. In a recent post, he argued that certain phrases people repeatedly use about money can reinforce a scarcity mindset and influence how they approach financial opportunities.
His three examples were “I can’t afford it,” “I’ll try,” and “the rich are greedy.” Kiyosaki's argument is about mindset and behavior rather than a claim that simply changing these words will make someone wealthy.
The 3 Phrases Kiyosaki Highlighted
1. “I can’t afford it”
Kiyosaki views this phrase as reflecting a focus on a person's current financial limitations rather than looking for ways to increase income or build assets.
His broader philosophy emphasizes acquiring financial knowledge and building income-producing assets instead of relying entirely on wages.
2. “I’ll try”
According to Kiyosaki, saying “I’ll try” can create a psychological distance between an intention and actual action.
His broader message is that financial education should lead to specific decisions and skills rather than vague intentions.
3. “The rich are greedy”
Kiyosaki argues that viewing wealthy people negatively can make people less interested in understanding how wealth is created.
His financial framework focuses heavily on assets, investment income and business ownership, rather than depending exclusively on earned wages.
Kiyosaki's Three Types of Income
A major part of Kiyosaki's financial philosophy is his distinction between different sources of income:
| Income Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Earned income | Salary or wages from employment |
| Portfolio income | Income generated through investments |
| Passive income | Income from assets or businesses with less direct labor |
Kiyosaki generally argues that people should work toward increasing portfolio and passive income rather than depending entirely on earned income.
Why He Keeps Talking About Financial Education
Kiyosaki has repeatedly emphasized that knowledge should come before investing.
In another recent discussion, he said that if he had to start over with $10,000, he would initially use the money to rebuild his financial knowledge rather than immediately buying stocks, crypto or real estate.
That message is consistent with his latest comments: changing financial behavior requires more than simply earning more money.
Kiyosaki's Focus on Bitcoin, Gold and Silver
Kiyosaki has also spent years advocating ownership of scarce assets such as Bitcoin, gold and silver.
His current Rich Dad platform continues to discuss gold and silver as potential ways to protect purchasing power against monetary expansion, debt and inflation.
He has previously said that he has held Bitcoin since 2012 and has continued buying the asset at substantially higher prices than when he first entered the market.
However, these are Kiyosaki's personal investment views, not guarantees about future asset performance.
The Bigger Financial Lesson
The useful part of Kiyosaki's argument is less about specific phrases and more about how people approach financial decisions.
A practical financial framework can include:
- Building financial knowledge
- Understanding income and expenses
- Creating an emergency fund
- Learning how different assets work
- Avoiding investments that are not understood
- Separating long-term goals from short-term speculation
- Managing risk before seeking higher returns
Changing language alone does not create wealth. Financial outcomes also depend on income, savings, investment returns, taxes, debt, risk and time.
Bitcoin, Gold and Silver Remain Part of His Strategy
Kiyosaki continues to position Bitcoin, gold and silver as alternatives to holding large amounts of fiat currency.
His argument is based largely on concerns about government debt, monetary expansion and declining purchasing power. Other investors, however, may use diversified portfolios containing cash, bonds, equities, real estate and commodities depending on their objectives and risk tolerance.
What Investors Should Watch
For followers of Kiyosaki's investment thesis, several areas remain important:
- Bitcoin adoption and institutional demand
- Gold and silver prices
- Inflation and interest rates
- Government debt levels
- Central-bank monetary policy
- Investor demand for scarce assets
- Changes in real purchasing power
These factors can influence markets regardless of an investor's personal financial mindset.
FAQ
What are the three phrases Kiyosaki mentioned?
They are “I can't afford it,” “I'll try,” and “the rich are greedy.” Kiyosaki argues that repeatedly using these phrases can reinforce limiting beliefs about money.
Does changing these phrases make someone wealthy?
Not by itself. Kiyosaki's point is about financial mindset and behavior, while actual wealth depends on factors such as income, savings, investing, risk management and time.
What assets does Kiyosaki favor?
Kiyosaki has repeatedly discussed Bitcoin, gold and silver as assets he prefers over holding large amounts of fiat currency.
What does Kiyosaki say about financial education?
He has argued that financial knowledge should come before investing and that understanding how money and assets work is critical to making better financial decisions.
Final Take
Robert Kiyosaki's latest message focuses on financial language, mindset and education rather than a new Bitcoin price target.
His three phrases — “I can't afford it,” “I'll try,” and “the rich are greedy” — are presented as examples of attitudes he believes can limit financial thinking. The broader lesson is that understanding money, assets and risk is more important than simply repeating positive statements.
