In the view of Robert Kiyosaki, one of the biggest differences between the rich and the poor is hidden in everyday conversation.
The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad believes that phrases like "I can't afford it," "I'll try," and "all rich people are greedy" reveal a person's mindset about money. In a recent post on X, he said that repeatedly repeating these thoughts only reinforces a scarcity mindset.
He wrote in the post: "Your best asset is free, and unfortunately, your worst liability is also free." He also cited his childhood Sunday school experience, saying, "the Word became flesh... and dwelt among us," in other words, what you say will ultimately become who you are. The three "free liabilities" he listed are precisely: "I can't afford it," "I'll try," and "all rich people are greedy."
Why Kiyosaki believes these three phrases make people poor
Kiyosaki's argument does not stop at "positive thinking." His more central point is that the rich understand money differently, especially when it comes to income.
He divides income into three categories:
Earned income comes from wages and usually bears the heaviest tax burden;
Portfolio income comes from investments such as retirement accounts;
Passive income is the category Kiyosaki praises most, and it can sometimes enjoy much lighter tax treatment.
This distinction also explains his favorite example: Warren Buffett. Because Buffett's wealth comes mainly from investing rather than a salary, his effective tax rate in some years was even lower than his secretary's.
ProPublica went further. Based on leaked U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data, an analysis estimated that between 2014 and 2018, comparing the taxes Buffett paid with the growth of his overall wealth, his "true tax rate" was only 0.1%.
This figure is disputed, because unrealized investment gains are usually not considered taxable income.
Why Kiyosaki keeps urging people to stop looking at money with an employee's mindset
For years, Kiyosaki has been conveying the same broader message: rely less on cash and hold more assets.
He says he has held gold since 1971, silver since 1965, Bitcoin since 2012, and recently bought Ethereum as well.
His price predictions often attract attention, and several of his 2026 target prices are still far above current market prices.
However, his most central claim is simpler than any market forecast: the way people talk about money often reveals how they expect money to work for them.
