Ah, that line hits like a gut punch wrapped in truth serum. It’s a raw reminder that genuine connection isn’t forged in the fire of convenience—it either withstands the lean times or crumbles under the weight of excess. Popularized recently by Nigerian writer Samuel Eriksen in a viral social media post, it’s sparking debates across platforms about loyalty, opportunism, and the harsh math of modern romance.
At its core, the saying flips the script on the “ride-or-die” myth. If someone’s affection only blooms when the bank account does, what you’re harvesting isn’t love—it’s a transaction. We’ve seen it play out in celebrity sagas (think rappers trading “day ones” for supermodel entourages) and everyday hustles alike. Poverty tests character like nothing else; it strips away the filters, revealing who stays for the soul versus the status. And when riches roll in? Suddenly, the buffet of options looks endless, and that tested loyalty? It either anchors you or sets you adrift in a sea of flings.
But here’s the flip: Not every success story ends in serial monogamy’s grave. Plenty of folks—men and women—build empires solo in scarcity, only to magnetize real partners later because they’ve leveled up their self-worth, not just their wallet. Character isn’t binary; it’s cultivated. As one X user quipped in echoing the quote, “Poverty exposes fakes—wealth just gives ’em a bigger stage.” Fair point. Still, the wisdom stings because it’s preventive: Seek the spark in the struggle, or risk a lifetime chasing shadows in the spotlight.
What about you—does this ring true from your corner of the world, or have you got a counter-tale of love that laughed at the odds?