Kiyosaki: Three Common Phrases That Signal a Poverty Mindset

Robert Kiyosaki believes a key difference between the wealthy and the poor is audible in daily speech.

The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad argues that expressions like "I can't afford it," "I'll try," and "the rich are greedy" expose how individuals think about finances. In a recent X post, he contended that repeating such ideas can strengthen a scarcity mentality.

Your BEST ASSETS are FREE

Unfortunately so are your WORST LIABILITIES

When I was in Sunday School I was taught:

“And the word became flesh…. and dwelt amongst us.”

In other words your words become YOU.

Biggest free liabilities:

“I can’t afford it.”

“l’ll try.”

“The rich…

— Robert Kiyosaki (@theRealKiyosaki) September 24, 2026

The Phrases Kiyosaki Says Keep People Poor

Kiyosaki’s reasoning goes beyond simple positive thinking. His larger point is that wealthy individuals grasp money differently, particularly in relation to income.

He breaks income down into three types.

• Earned income comes from wages and typically carries the highest tax burden.
• Portfolio income is derived from holdings such as retirement accounts.
• Passive income, which Kiyosaki prefers, can at times receive far more favorable tax treatment.

This distinction helps clarify one of his go-to examples: Warren Buffett.

Buffett has famously paid a lower effective tax rate than his secretary in certain years, since the bulk of his wealth originates from investments rather than a salary.

ProPublica took the analysis further. Using leaked IRS data, one study pegged Buffett’s "true tax rate" at just 0.1% between 2014 and 2018 when tax payments are weighed against the increase in his total net worth.

That figure is disputed, as unrealized investment gains are typically not considered taxable income.

Why Kiyosaki Keeps Telling People to Stop Thinking Like Employees

Kiyosaki has long promoted the same overarching idea: depend less on cash and acquire assets.

He claims to have held gold since 1971, silver since 1965, Bitcoin since 2012, and more recently Ethereum.

His price predictions frequently draw notice, and several of his 2026 targets remain far from present levels.

Still, his core argument is simpler than any market projection. The language people use about money, Kiyosaki maintains, frequently shows how they expect money to operate for them.