Ben Stein Quotes

Powerful Ben Stein for Daily Growth

About Ben Stein

Benjamin Jeremy 'Ben' Stein, born on November 28, 1944, in Washington D.C., is an American lawyer, actor, writer, and game show host, renowned for his distinctive speaking style and humorous wit. After graduating from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965, Stein went on to earn his law degree at Yale Law School in 1967. He began his career as an attorney but found success in the entertainment industry. Stein first gained national recognition in the late 1970s when he served as a scriptwriter for the satirical comedy show 'Saturday Night Live.' His deadpan delivery and dry humor made him a popular figure, leading to appearances on various talk shows and game shows. One of his most memorable roles was as the irascible economics teacher in the 1986 film 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off.' In the realm of literature, Stein is best known for his books 'The Real McCoy: A Matter-of-Fact Faith' (2007), a collection of essays exploring faith and morality, and 'Yes, You Can Time Travel: A Factually Inaccurate Story About Time Machines' (2015), a humorously inaccurate exploration of time travel. Stein is also well-known for his political commentary and conservative views. He has been a regular contributor to several conservative publications and has made numerous television appearances discussing politics, economics, and other topics. Despite his controversial political views, Stein's unique perspective and delivery continue to captivate audiences across various media platforms.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you're going to be President, you can't make a joke like that."

This quote suggests that if one holds a position of great power and responsibility, such as being a president, they must exercise extreme caution in their words and actions. Jokes or statements that are perceived as inappropriate, insensitive, or disrespectful may have far-reaching consequences and could undermine the trust and respect required for effective leadership. In other words, leaders should be mindful of the impact of their words, even in jest, as they set a tone and example for their followers.

"We've all been young and made mistakes; either on the golf course or in life."

This quote emphasizes that everyone, regardless of age, makes mistakes – be it while playing golf or navigating through life. It underscores the human condition of learning from our experiences, acknowledges the inevitability of errors as part of personal growth, and suggests a sense of empathy towards others who may have faltered along their journey.

"Ask not what you can do for your country; ask what's for lunch."

This quote by Ben Stein is a playful take on President John F. Kennedy's famous line, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," which was part of his 1961 inaugural address. Stein humorously suggests that instead of thinking about how one can contribute to the nation, they should consider what food they will eat next. This could imply a few things: firstly, it may suggest a cynical view of political engagement and public service, or secondly, it might be used as a reminder to take time for self-care amidst social responsibilities. Ultimately, the quote encourages us to find balance between our obligations and personal needs, recognizing that both are essential for overall well-being.

"I don't think any of us really understand economics and money that well."

This quote by Ben Stein acknowledges a common reality: most people lack a comprehensive understanding of economics and finance. These subjects are complex and ever-evolving, making it difficult for the average person to grasp their intricacies without specialized study or professional guidance. The comment emphasizes the importance of continued learning, critical thinking, and humility when navigating financial decisions in life.

"Capitalism: The amazing belief that risk-taking, injustice, and greed will somehow deliver the best good for all."

Ben Stein's quote on capitalism suggests a nuanced perspective where he acknowledges the inherent qualities of capitalism as being risk-oriented, driven by self-interest, and potentially unjust. However, he also implies that despite these characteristics, capitalism has the unique ability to deliver collective benefits for society as a whole. This balance between individualism and collectivism, self-interest and social responsibility, is an ongoing discussion in economic theory and policy-making. The quote invites us to reflect on the role of ethical considerations within capitalistic systems and the need for regulations that ensure fairness and promote collective welfare while fostering innovation and growth.

Jump into the middle of things, get your hands dirty, fall flat on your face, and then reach for the stars.

- Ben Stein

Reach For The Stars, Dirty, Flat

If Iran and North Korea, by some horrible, devilish, nightmarish scenario, got together and went to war at the same time, one against Saudi Arabia and one against South Korea, I don't know what we would do about that. I don't know that we could stop them short of using nuclear weapons.

- Ben Stein

Some, Against, South, Scenario

I'm an economist by training. I don't really work as an economist. I only worked briefly as an economist.

- Ben Stein

Work, Only, Worked, Economist

A corporation's responsibility is to the shareholders, not its retirees and employees. Companies are doing everything they can to get rid of pension plans and they will succeed.

- Ben Stein

Doing, Will, Retirees, Shareholders

Put simply, the rich pay a lot of taxes as a total percentage of taxes collected, but they don't pay a lot of taxes as a percentage of what they can afford to pay, or as a percentage of what the government needs to close the deficit gap.

- Ben Stein

Rich, Needs, Pay, Percentage

My 'thing' is that I just lie in my immense bed and look out the window at the skyline over Virginia and the sky and the airplanes coming into Reagan. I really love doing that.

- Ben Stein

Sky, Bed, Over, Airplane

Wow, bad news. Mr. Obama now hates Israel because the Israelis want to build 1,600 apartments in their own capital city, Jerusalem. Russia hates Israel, too. So do the Europeans. So does Ban Ki-moon, a Korean who is secretary-general of the UN.

- Ben Stein

City, Bad, Capital, Ban

I think it's criminal how little people in the military are paid. These are people out risking their lives, taken away from their families for long periods of time. I think they should be paid dramatically more than they're paid.

- Ben Stein

Away, I Think, Long Periods, Risking

Running a real business is exacting, daunting, repetitive work. Even in Silicon Valley.

- Ben Stein

Business, Running, Exacting, Silicon

I do all of the grocery shopping in my little family. I buy cheese, of many different kinds, sliced packaged meats and poultry, bagels, immense quantities of eggs, pre-made fried chicken. Milk. Bacon. It is insane how much dairy, deli and bakery stuff I buy.

- Ben Stein

Chicken, Buy, Quantities, Poultry

The people who did the collateralized mortgage obligations, sold them to pension funds, then sold them short, then bought credit default swap insurance on them, are just amazing. They are a law unto themselves.

- Ben Stein

Insurance, Sold, Unto, Funds

I don't believe the most successful people are the ones who got the best grades, got into the best schools, or made the most money.

- Ben Stein

Best, Believe, Made, Successful People

Israel being condemned by the EU, which 66 years ago watched with glee as its Jews were being mass murdered. That is pretty rich.

- Ben Stein

Pretty, Jews, Which, EU

Emperor Sid Caesar is gone to eternity himself now. He takes with him the gratitude of every one of us who first learned the relief of laughter from this genuinely great performer.

- Ben Stein

Eternity, Performer, Learned, Caesar

It's amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions.

- Ben Stein

Amazing, Set, Notions, Preconceived

Sleep more at night. If it's allowed at work or home, take a nap in the afternoon. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel.

- Ben Stein

Work, More, Allowed, Nap

As to a media personality, well that just happened in large measure because people found me amusing, and I did lots and lots of T.V. news interview shows.

- Ben Stein

News, Large, Lots And Lots, Interview

If you want to fight the evil you see in finance and industry, get to work reading the corporate filings, see if there has been fraud, and where you find it, report it to the SEC or write about it or blog about it.

- Ben Stein

Work, Want, Been, SEC

People getting rich in a free society in general - with some scammy exceptions, which are rare - makes everyone else richer, too.

- Ben Stein

Some, Which, Everyone Else, Richer

As Beverly Hills becomes more Iranian-Jewish, it is becoming politically conservative.

- Ben Stein

Conservative, More, Becoming, Hills

Somewhere there is a map of how it can be done.

- Ben Stein

Done, Somewhere, How, Map

Usually I am not a conspiracy theorist. I don't believe in the Bilderbergers as a conspiracy or the Trilateralists. But I am certain that the Communists killed JFK. There is a super great book called 'Legend' by Edward Jay Epstein that makes it all perfectly clear.

- Ben Stein

Book, Legend, Perfectly, Theorist

Sleep makes people calmer, more alert, less fearful - just plain happier, or so I see around me and in me. I am sure that if this great nation were to concentrate on getting more sleep, we would be a happier, more confident people, and that by itself would be a major achievement.

- Ben Stein

Fear, Achievement, Nation, Great Nation

It's a great stretch for me to do my game show. It's very hard. It's not me at all. The only part that's me is sort of when I'm sitting in the booth looking tormented. That's the only part that's the real me.

- Ben Stein

Game, Very, Game Show, Tormented

Traders can cause short-term volatility. In the long run, the market must revert to a sensible price/earnings multiple.

- Ben Stein

Long Run, Cause, Multiple, Sensible

If we are just specks of dust hit by lightning, if we have no spark of God in us, why not just take whatever we can and devil take the hindmost? I mean, we are fools not to do that if there is no right or wrong.

- Ben Stein

Lightning, Devil, Why, Spark

If there is no God, why bother to tell the truth? Why not steal?

- Ben Stein

Truth, Bother, Steal, Why Not

I am so in love with just lying in bed listening to Mozart.

- Ben Stein

Love, Listening, Bed, Mozart

Trying to pick individual stocks is a trap. I can't do it. Warren Buffett can, but hardly anyone else can beat the indexes over a long period of time.

- Ben Stein

Over, Period, Long Period, Hardly

The sad fact is that spending rises every year, no matter what people want or say they want.

- Ben Stein

Fact, Year, Spending, Sad Fact

If we try to engineer outcomes, if we overturn tradition to make everyone the same, we ruin society. If we upset tradition to allow for an equal shot at the starting gate, everyone wins, except for the charlatans and would be dictators.

- Ben Stein

Upset, Allow, Wins, Gate

So many fail because they don't get started - they don't go. They don't overcome inertia. They don't begin.

- Ben Stein

Go, Fail, Get, Inertia

Yes, Americans can still get credit for cars and trucks and refrigerators, and those businesses are doing well. But just try to get a home loan now.

- Ben Stein

Doing, Loan, Still, Trucks

The America that we knew as the smartest place on the planet is gone with the wind.

- Ben Stein

Place, Knew, Planet, Gone With The Wind

My parents, products of the Great Depression, were successful people, but lived in a state of constant fear that my sister and I, and they, would sink into the kind of economic insecurity that their generation knew so well.

- Ben Stein

Products, Constant, Would, Economic

I'd say the main way people get into terrible financial trouble is just to spend too much money relative to their income, and that is an endemic problem in the United States of America, and that's the kind of thing that should be taught about in schools.

- Ben Stein

Financial, Income, United, Endemic

I was a trial lawyer. At the same time, I was a teacher. I taught about the political and social content of film for American University. Then I left and became a teacher at the University of California at Santa Cruz. I taught about the political and social content of film, but I also taught a course in law for undergraduates.

- Ben Stein

University, About, Became, Cruz

Hollywood is largely about scammers and con men. It was my main livelihood for about 25 years, and the scams were beautiful and ugly, cheap and expensive, but, wow, were there a lot of scammers.

- Ben Stein

Hollywood, Con, About, Wow

You cannot win if you're not at the table. You have to be where the action is.

- Ben Stein

Action, Cannot, Where, Table

Screaming at children over their grades, especially to the point of the child's tears, is child abuse, pure and simple. It's not funny and it's not good parenting. It is a crushing, scarring, disastrous experience for the child. It isn't the least bit funny.

- Ben Stein

Parenting, Over, Crushing, Child Abuse

I am scared of getting old. I am scared of being ill.

- Ben Stein

I Am, Old, Getting, Scared

I am scared of running out of money.

- Ben Stein

Money, I Am, Running, Scared

I think Darwinism as a theory explaining evolution within species is incredibly brilliant - just unbelievably, incredibly brilliant.

- Ben Stein

Think, Brilliant, I Think, Explaining

I thought that all of the sacrifices and blessings of the whole history of mankind have devolved upon me. Thank you, God.

- Ben Stein

Thought, Mankind, Sacrifices, Devolved

We're a lazy, undisciplined generation. I don't exempt myself: I spend way too much, even though I make a good income.

- Ben Stein

Generation, Income, Though, Exempt

Americans are terrified because so many of them have been laid off in recent years and months and they fear that they may be next. Even if they have not been laid off or have not known anyone laid off, they definitely know someone who has lost his home.

- Ben Stein

Next, Years, Been, Recent

My pals, such as they are, in Hollywood, ask me why I love to travel to D.C. so much, why it's a vacation destination for me. I say, 'Because I sometimes have perfect days there.'

- Ben Stein

Love, Perfect, Hollywood, Vacation

After all the black man has been through in this world, he can still often reach levels of spirituality the most pampered white man cannot touch. Maybe what he's been through is the reason why.

- Ben Stein

Reason, Through, Been, Levels

It's really amazing that in the age of unbelief, as a smart man called it, there isn't even more fraud. After all, with no God, there's no one to ever call you to account, and no accounting at all if you can get away with it.

- Ben Stein

Smart, Amazing, Away, Accounting

I have a great pic of my father and Rev. Graham laughing hysterically at some joke with George Pratt Shultz looking on back in 1972 or so.

- Ben Stein

Father, Some, Graham, Laughing

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against.

- Ben Stein

Jewish, Feel, Against, Discriminated

I am about to vote. I am about to do something that human beings are rarely allowed to do. I am doing something that did not exist until America.

- Ben Stein

Doing, About, Allowed, Vote

I tell you why I don't think I will ever vote for a Democrat, if I may say so. Because for me, the number one issue is right to life, and I don't think the Democrats are very good on the right-to-life issue.

- Ben Stein

Why, Tell, Very, Vote

I have always been very concerned that Darwinism gave the basic okay to terrible racism and to the idea of murder based upon race.

- Ben Stein

Always, Okay, Very, Terrible

I spend so much time in fear of going broke, and I never have been even remotely close to going broke.

- Ben Stein

Broke, Going, Been, So Much Time

For me, I've always believed that there was a God. I've always believed that God created the heavens and earth - so, for me it's not a huge leap from there to intelligent design.

- Ben Stein

Intelligent, Always, Created, Believed

People ask how I can be a conservative and still want higher taxes. It makes my head spin, and I guess it shows how old I am. But I thought that conservatives were supposed to like balanced budgets. I thought it was the conservative position to not leave heavy indebtedness to our grandchildren.

- Ben Stein

Thought, Conservative, Taxes, Higher Taxes

The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so much less than he did fifty years ago and has such poor work habits compared with fifty years ago that the average multiplicand of knowledge/capabilities is a much smaller number than it was in 1961.

- Ben Stein

Habits, Average, Smaller, As Far As

So, who in the media is without sin among us? I am in the media and I am a major league sinner. I don't know anyone except my wife who isn't a big time sinner.

- Ben Stein

Wife, Big, League, Sinner

You must take the first step. The first steps will take some effort, maybe pain. But after that, everything that has to be done is real-life movement.

- Ben Stein

Pain, Will, Some, Real-Life

I don't like the sound of all the lists he's making.

- Ben Stein

Sound, Making, Like, Lists

I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

- Ben Stein

Country, Like, Explicitly, Atheist

Israel is our strongest, most reliable ally in the Middle East. Of course, we're their most reliable ally, too.

- Ben Stein

Middle, Most, Our, Strongest

The banks are not lending, at least from what I see. They were so wild and reckless back in the good times that they got burned terribly.

- Ben Stein

Lending, Banks, Least, Burned

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it.

- Ben Stein

Think, Fact, Bother, Ghetto

If there are finer beings than German short hairs, I don't know what they are. In their eyes is peace.

- Ben Stein

Eyes, German, Beings, Hairs

Academic freedom is being lost by a great many people who dare to challenge Darwinism. That's a terrifying situation. That's contrary to the principles of science.

- Ben Stein

Terrifying, Being, Darwinism, Dare

The successful people of this world take life as it comes. They just go out and deal with the world as it is.

- Ben Stein

World, Deal, Take, Successful People

It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated... it is finished when it surrenders.

- Ben Stein

Defeated, Some, Inevitable, Victorious

I don't really consider myself to be a personal finance expert compared with some others. There are quite a few that know a lot more than I do.

- Ben Stein

Expert, More, Some, Compared

When I seemed to be irritable or sad, my father would quote the learned Dr. Knight, and then say, 'Just go to sleep.' Like all smart aleck kids, I thought the advice was silly. But as I've grown older, I've realized just how smart Knight was.

- Ben Stein

Sad, Thought, Advice, Knight

Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows.

- Ben Stein

Achievement, Which, Grows, Real Life

If there's a recession, I'd buy stocks. That's when you make money: when markets are spooked.

- Ben Stein

Buy, Recession, Markets, Stocks

I agree that there are some bad apples on Wall Street. I spent about ten years exposing corporate and financial fraud for 'Barron's' magazine and I found a lot to write about.

- Ben Stein

Financial, Bad, Some, Magazine

Greed is a basic part of animal nature. Being against it is like being against breathing or eating. It means nothing.

- Ben Stein

Nature, Like, Means, Basic

I'm not a Mensa member. I have no idea where that rumor came from. I never have been, and I doubt if I ever will be.

- Ben Stein

Will, Idea, Been, No Idea

Men and women succeed because they find a field of endeavor that matches their interests and abilities.

- Ben Stein

Men, Find, Field, Interests

Darwinism doesn't explain where gravity comes from. It doesn't explain where thermodynamics comes from. It doesn't explain where the laws of physics come from. It doesn't explain where matter came from.

- Ben Stein

Laws, Explain, Darwinism, Physics

I always assumed scientists were free to ask any question, pursue any line of inquiry without fear or reprisal.

- Ben Stein

Question, Always, Line, Inquiry

Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over gain, and you will grow stronger until have accomplished a purpose - not the one you began with perhaps, but one you'll be glad to remember.

- Ben Stein

Beginning, Grow, Over, Accomplished

It means zero to be against greed.

- Ben Stein

Against, Zero, Means, Greed

I love sleeping in a moving car more than sleeping in bed.

- Ben Stein

Love, Bed, I Love, Moving

I have to tell you I never in my life anticipated getting this old, this fast. It seems as if I were 25 just a few days ago.

- Ben Stein

My Life, Old, Tell, Seems

It is so great to sleep in safe, glorious, beautiful America. I just cannot get over it.

- Ben Stein

Great, Over, Over It, Glorious

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

- Ben Stein

Think, I Think, Period, Jew

Science should always be in the business of attempting to disprove itself.

- Ben Stein

Always, Attempting, Itself, Disprove

If there is no God, then man sometimes thinks he is god, and sometimes tries to live like a god.

- Ben Stein

Sometimes, Like, Tries, Thinks

It isn't the rich people's fault that poor people are poor. Poor people who get an education and work hard in this country will stop being poor. That should be the goal for all poor people everywhere.

- Ben Stein

Education, Goal, Country, Poor People

The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.

- Ben Stein

First Step, Want, Getting, Step

The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.

- Ben Stein

Life, First Step, Getting, Step

The education system should teach us about money; it's an incredibly big subject. I run into people all the time that don't have the first clue of what they should do about money.

- Ben Stein

Education, Big, Subject, Clue

We are not supposed to be all equal. Let's just forget that. We are supposed to have equal rights under law. If we do that, we have done enough.

- Ben Stein

Equality, Law, Enough, Supposed

I am so used to having a comfortable life. What will it be like when I am no longer able to just buy anything I want?

- Ben Stein

Will, Like, Having, Comfortable

We in the media are just people with all of people's faults.

- Ben Stein

People, Media, Just, Faults

If you can't stand the heat, don't go to Cancun in the summer.

- Ben Stein

Heat, Stand, Go, Summer

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.

- Ben Stein

Faith, Believing, Will, Knowing

When are American Jews going to realize that the Republican Party is far better for Israel than the Democrats?

- Ben Stein

Democrats, Jews, Going, Republican Party

Every soul deserves a shot at a Cadillac, but not everyone should be guaranteed a Cadillac.

- Ben Stein

Soul, Everyone, Deserves, Cadillac

When Hollywood sees a good story about a man who sells confidence, they see themselves and they like it.

- Ben Stein

Hollywood, Good Story, Sells, Sees

The human spirit needs to accomplish, to achieve, to triumph to be happy.

- Ben Stein

Accomplish, Triumph, Needs, Be Happy

Now, although my life is still pleasant, the days of easy money are over.

- Ben Stein

My Life, Over, Still, Pleasant

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