A rich man is either a scoundrel or the heir of a scoundrel.
[Dives aut iniquus est, aut iniqui haeres.]
Proverbs, Sayings, and Adages
Latin proverb
This one has many variants in English, including:It was frequently quoted by St. Jerome. See Laudator Temporis Acti: Mma Potokwane and Saint Jerome for more discussion.
- "A rich man is dishonest himself, or at least he succeeds a dishonest predecessor."
[tr. Donne, Sermon 140 (1620-04-02)]- "Every rich man is either an oppressor himself, or the heir of one."
[tr. Manton (c. 1660)]- "A rich man is either a crook or a crook's heir."
- "A rich man is either a knave, or the heir of a knave."
- "A rich man is an unjust man, or the heir of one."
Quotations about:
rich get richer
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
If you’re poor now, my friend, then you’ll stay poor.
These days only the rich get given more.[Semper eris pauper, si pauper es, Aemiliane;
Dantur opes nulli nunc, nisi divitibus.]Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 5, epigram 81 (5.81) (AD 90) [tr. Michie (1972)]
(Source)
"To Aemilianus." (Source (Latin)). Other translations:Faile yee of wealth, of wealthy ye still will faile,
None but fat sowes are now greaz'd in the taile.
[tr. Davison (1602), "To All Poore Schollers"]If thou be poore, thou shalt be ever so;
None now do wealth, but on the rich, bestowe.
[tr. May (1629)]If thou are poor, Æmilian,
Thou shalt be ever so,
For no man now his presents can
But on the rich bestow.
[tr. Fletcher (1656)]You want, Æmilianus, so you may;
Riches are given rich men, and none but they.
[tr. Wright (1663)]Once poor, my friend, still poor you must remain,
The rich alone have all the means of gain.
[tr. Edward Cave, Rambler # 166 (19 Oct 1751); sometimes attributed to publisher Samuel Johnson]Poor once and poor for ever, Nat, I fear;
None but the rich get place and pension here.
[tr. Halhed (1793)]If you are poor now, Æmilianus, you will always be poor.
Riches are now given to none but the rich.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1859)]If poor you are, poor you will always be,
For wealth’s now given to none but to the rich.
[ed. Harbottle (1897)]You will always be poor, if you are poor, Aemilianus.
Wealth is given today to none save the rich.
[tr. Ker (1919)]Gold only draws to gold, so it is plain,
If you are poor, that poor you will remain.
[tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]Poor if you are, my friend,
Poor will you always be.
Money gets money today;
Poverty, poverty.
[tr. Marcellino (1968)]If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days only the rich get given more.
[tr. Michie (1972)]You will always be poor if you are poor, Aemilianus. Nowadays wealth is given only to the rich.
[tr. Shackleton Bailey (1993)]You're cursed by poverty? But they tell me you're "blessed."
While the rich get richer ... you know the rest.
[tr. Ericsson (1995)]Aemilianus, you’ll always be poor if you’re poor.
These days they only give wealth to the rich.
[tr. Klein (2006)]Vainly the poor extend their palms.
Only the rich are given alms.
[tr. Wills (2007)]If you're a poor man now, Amos,
a poor man you'll remain.
Riches are only given only
to rich men.
[tr. Kennelly (2008)]You will always be poor, Aemilianus, if you are poor;
nowadays wealth comes to no one but the rich.
[tr. @sentantiq (2012)]If poor, Aemilianus, poor you'll stay.
None but the rich get wealthier today.
[tr. McLean (2014)]
