Extravagance Quotes
The actual quote, referring to Gandhi, is from Sarojini Naidu (President of the Indian National Congress), βIt costs a lot of money to keep this man in poverty.β She was pointing out the high logistical costs of his austere lifestyle, such as reserving entire third-class train cars for his staff and entourage. Over time, internet memes and quote lists adapted Naidu's observation into a witty first-person statement ("I am a poor man...") and mistakenly credited it to Gandhi himself.
Referring to his opponent, John McClellan. Attack campaigning and slandering oneβs opponent has a long history in American Politics.
Historically, most of the revolutionary leaders are the sons (and daughters) of upper class and upper middle class parents. They generally have had a good education and are intimately familiar with the foibles of the ruling class.