Let me finish the other emotion, which is desire. Some call it greed, but I prefer desire. It is per- fectly normal to desire something better, prettier, more fun or exciting. So people also work for money because of de- sire. They desire money for the joy they think it can buy. But the joy that money brings is often short lived, and they soon need more money for more joy, more pleasure, more comfort, more security. So they keep working, thinking money will soothe their souls that are troubled by fear and desire. But money cannot do that." "Even rich people?" Mike asked. "Rich people included," said rich dad. "In fact, the rea- son many rich people are rich is not because of desire but because of fear. They actually think that money can elimi- nate that fear of not having money, of being poor, so they amass tons of it only to find out the fear gets worse. They now fear losing it. I have friends who keep working even though they have plenty. I know people who have millions who are more afraid now than when they were poor. They're terrified of losing all their money. The fears that drove them to get rich got worse. That weak and needy part of their soul is actually screaming louder. They don't want to lose the big houses, the cars, the high life that money has bought them. They worry about what their friends would say if they lost all their money. Many are emotionally desperate and neurotic, although they look rich and have more money." "So is a poor man happier?" I asked. "No, I don't think so," replied rich dad. "The avoidance of_jrj&neyjs just. jtjjisychotic as being attached to money." As if on cue, the town derelict went past our table, stop- ping by the large rubbish can and rummaging around in it. The three of us watched him with great interest, when be- fore we probably would have just ignored him. Rich dad pulled a dollar out of his wallet and gestured to the older man. Seeing the money, the derelict came over immediately, took the bill, thanked rich dad profusely and hurried off ecstatic with his good fortune. "He's not much different from most of my employees," said rich dad. "I've met so many people who say, 'Oh, I'm not interested in money.' Yet they'll work at a job for eight hours a day. That's a denial of truth. If they weren't inter- ested in money, then why are they working? That kind of thinking is probably more psychotic than a person who hoards money." As I sat there listening to my rich dad, my mind was flashing back to the countless times my own dad said, "I'm not interested in money." He said those words often. He also covered himself by always saying, "I work because I love my job." "So what do we do?" I asked. "Not work for money until all traces of fear and greed are gone?" "No, that would be a waste of time," said rich dad. "Emotions are what make us human. Make us real. The word 'emotion' stands for energy in motion.