Who said the poor will eat the rich?

Asked by: Dr. Anahi Labadie  |  Last update: December 2, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (5 votes)

The phrase is commonly attributed to political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, from a quote first popularized during the French Revolution: "When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich".

Who originally said "eat the rich"?

Eat the Rich is a phrase. It is attributed to French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The direct phrase in his original language is: "Quand les pauvres n'auront plus rien à manger, ils mangeront les riches!" (When the poor have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich!).

What is the full quote of Eat the Rich?

“Eat the Rich” is commonly attributed to Jean Jacques Rousseau, a renowned political philosopher and leading figure in the French Revolution. The original quote goes like this: “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.” “The rich” that Rousseau was referring to was anyone in power.

What is the origin of the poem eat the rich?

But it was not until after his death in the late 18th century that Adolphe Thiers used Rousseau's words in his ten-volume History of the French Revolution to summon up the spirit of said revolution: “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.” For as it turns out, even when you smash the ...

Who said the poor get poorer and the rich get richer?

Percy Bysshe Shelley (whose wife Mary famously penned Frankenstein) is credited with first coining the aphorism “the rich get richer, the poor get poorer,” which was itself a riff on the Biblical parable of the talents in Matthew 25:29 which made much the same point.

No Really, Let’s Please Eat The Rich

23 related questions found

What did Benjamin Franklin say about the poor?

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.

What did Karl Marx think about rich and poor?

The well-worn assertion that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer echoes Karl Marx's theory of immiseration which said that capitalists could only become richer by lowering wages, thereby reducing the living standards of workers until they had no choice but to revolt.

What does the poor man throw away and the rich keep?

Money. The rich preserve their money where as the poor throw it. Therefore they are poor and remain poor for ever. As soon as they learn to respect money The poverty ends.

What do the wealthy eat?

Costliest food items in the world only rich people can afford
  • Ayam Cemani Black Chicken. Priced at over $200 per kilogram in Indonesia. ...
  • Saffron. Priced at $500 per ounce. ...
  • Wagyu beef. Priced at around $500 per kilogram. ...
  • Madagascar vanilla pod. Priced at $600 per pound. ...
  • Kopi Luwak. ...
  • Moose cheese. ...
  • Iberian ham. ...
  • Black watermelon.

Who wrote the Eat the rich book?

Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics is a 1998 book by P. J. O'Rourke that explains economics in a humorous way.

What is the eat the rich theory?

"Eat the rich" is a political slogan associated with anti-capitalism and left-wing politics, as well as sometimes anarchist violent extremism. It may variously be used as a metaphor for class conflict or a demand for wealth redistribution.

What is the famous quote follow the money?

"Follow the money" is a catchphrase popularized by the 1976 docudrama film All the President's Men, which suggests political corruption can be brought to light by examining money transfers between parties.

What is the quote about feeding the poor?

"A hungry man is not a free man." "Few things have more impact than nutrition on a child's ability to survive, learn effectively and escape a life of poverty." "When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor have nothing to eat, they called me a communist."

What was the rich man's sin?

In Jesus' parable, the rich man's sin was not that he was rich; it was that he refused to care for a person in need. His stony heart ignored the call to share food with the hungry and to provide shelter and clothing for people in need (Isaiah 58:7).

What does eat the frog mean?

The idea is that you identify one challenging task (the frog) and complete the task first thing in the morning (eating it). To put it simply, eating the frog is the process of identifying your most difficult task of the day and completing it before you do any other work.

Who didn't eat the king's food in the Bible?

Daniel did not want to eat the king's rich food and wine because it would make him unclean. So he asked Ashpenaz for permission not to make himself unclean in this way. God caused Ashpenaz, the man in charge of the officials, to be kind and loyal to Daniel.

What food does Bill Gates eat?

Gates' eating habits aren't much better than other billionaires. He's said he eats Cocoa Puffs for breakfast. Though his ex-wife Melinda Gates has said in the past that he skips the meal altogether. He also apparently loves cheeseburgers.

What sweets do rich people eat?

Sweet Symphony: The Most Expensive Desserts in The World
  • 24-carat popsicle. ...
  • The Golden Phoenix Cupcake. ...
  • The Bear Extraordinaire at Baccarat Hotel New York. ...
  • Krispy Kreme's Luxe Doughnut. ...
  • Byakuya ice cream. ...
  • Crystal Macaroons. ...
  • The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence. ...
  • Frrrozen Haute Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae.

Why do rich people eat small?

Fine dining restaurants prioritise premium and freshest ingredients. They source these ingredients locally or import them. These high-quality ingredients come at a significant cost, especially when considering seasonal fare. Small portions help manage these costs effectively.

What did Jesus say about the rich and poor?

He said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven (Matt 19:24). On some occasions, Jesus' exhortations to help the poor have been used as arguments for the redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor.

What does a rich man need but a poor man has?

A rich man needs nothing. A poor man has nothing. If you eat nothing you die and when you die you can take nothing with you!

Why do the rich not give to the poor?

Many wealthy people work hard for their money and would rather buy luxuries than give money to the poor, some of whom choose not to work. Being obliged to give to the poor can be demotivating e.g. Ronald Reagan had to pay 90% of his filmstar earnings in tax, a reason he gave for turning down some roles.

What did Karl Marx call the poor?

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are generally considered to have coined the term Lumpenproletariat. It is composed of the German word Lumpen, which is usually translated as "ragged" and prolétariat, a French word adopted as a common Marxist term for the class of wage earners in a capitalist system.

Was Karl Marx poor when he died?

It may not come as a huge surprise that communist and anti-capitalist philosopher Karl Marx died a poor man. But why did the German, who had seven children by his wife and died in north London, leave his meagre £250 (£23,000 today) to his youngest daughter Eleanor?

What is the difference between wealth and income?

Wealth is the value of assets you own, like money and property. Income is the amount you make in a certain period, like your salary.