Laziness breeds poverty.

Meaning: If you are lazy and don't work hard, you will likely become poor.

Choice of Words: Laziness is the state of being unwilling to work or use energy. Breeds means to produce or cause something to exist. Poverty is the state of being extremely poor.

Alternative Expressions

If you're lazy, you'll be poor.

Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, but it's written in a different way.

Choice of Words: If is a word that shows a condition or situation. You're is a short way of saying "you are." Lazy is the habit of being unwilling to work or use energy. You'll is a short way of saying "you will." Poor is the state of being very poor, often without enough money to meet basic needs. When you put them together, "If you're lazy, you'll be poor" means that if you don't work hard or try your best, you might not have enough money to buy the things you need.

Being lazy can make you poor.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences, but it's written in a different way.

Choice of Words: Being is a form of the verb "to be" and it's used to describe a state or condition. Lazy is the habit of being unwilling to work or use energy. Can is a modal verb that shows possibility or ability. Make is a verb that means to cause something to happen. Poor is the state of being very poor, often without enough money to meet basic needs. When you put them together, "Being lazy can make you poor" means that if you don't work hard or try your best, you might not have enough money to buy the things you need.

Related Expressions