# eat the rich

> English word · Phrase

## Definitions
1. An expression of contempt towards capitalism and the rich, demanding an equitable redistribution of wealth.

## Etymology
Attributed to the Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The original quotation was: “Quand le peuple n’aura plus rien à manger, il mangera le riche.” (“When the people shall have no more to eat, they will eat the rich.”)
Became popular in the 21st-century United States as an anti-capitalist motto in left-wing online communities.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/eat-the-rich