Ruò yào fā, qióngrén tóu shàng guā.

若要髮, 窮人頭上刮。

Lit If [one] wants to get [rich], [one needs to] shave poor people's heads.

Fig One cannot get rich without exploiting the poor.

Note [Rhyme; note: fācái, “to get rich”; guā, (lit) “to shave,” is colloquial for “exploit whatever one can from others”; see also shābude pín jiā below.]

Topics EXPLOITATION fācái POVERTY rhyme WEALTH