Stephen Furst Quotes

Powerful Stephen Furst for Daily Growth

About Stephen Furst

Stephen Furst (April 5, 1952 – June 16, 2017) was an American actor, director, and author, best known for his role as Flounder in the iconic film franchise "Animal House" (1978). Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Furst developed a passion for acting at a young age, performing in school plays and local community theater productions. His professional acting career began in the late 1960s, appearing in various television shows such as "I Dream of Jeannie," "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," and "The Partridge Family." However, it was his portrayal of Kent 'Flounder' Deutschman in "Animal House" that catapulted him to stardom. Furst continued to act throughout the 1980s, appearing in shows like "St. Elsewhere," "The Fall Guy," and "Star Trek: Voyager." He also ventured into directing with an episode of "St. Elsewhere" titled "A Good Day to Die" in 1983. In the 1990s, Furst transitioned from acting to writing, publishing several books. His first novel, "The Tactical Guide to Surviving Any Zombie Apocalypse," was a satirical take on survival guides, published in 2007. He followed this with "Give 'Em Hell, Hawkeye! A Tribute to the Legendary Character and the Man Who Played Him" (2016), an homage to his friend Alan Alda's character from "M*A*S*H." Throughout his career, Furst was influenced by various actors, including Alan Alda, John Belushi, and Christopher Reeve. He was also known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in support of AIDS awareness and research following the death of his close friend Rock Hudson. Stephen Furst passed away in 2017 from complications related to diabetes. His contributions to film and television, as well as his writing, continue to be celebrated by fans around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The road to success is always under construction."

This quote suggests that achievement and progress, symbolized by the "road to success," are never-ending and require continuous effort and development. Just like how a physical road is constantly maintained, improved, and expanded, personal growth and success also need constant attention and adjustment. It's a reminder that there is always room for improvement and advancement in life, so one should remain persistent and open to change.


"I've learned that every disappointment I've experienced has been a stepping stone to something better."

This quote by Stephen Furst suggests that setbacks or disappointments in life serve as valuable lessons or experiences that ultimately lead us towards something more fulfilling or beneficial. Essentially, it implies that what may initially seem like a negative event or situation can act as a stepping stone to greater opportunities or personal growth.


"Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally; it comes from what you do consistently."

This quote emphasizes that consistency is key to achieving success, not sporadic or occasional efforts. It suggests that one should strive to engage in regular, dedicated work in their chosen field, as consistent action lays the foundation for long-term achievements. Success may take time but it will come to those who persist and remain committed over a prolonged period.


"You'll never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks."

This quote encourages persistence in one's journey, advising against getting distracted or discouraged by obstacles or negative feedback along the way. The "destination" represents one's goals or aspirations, while the "dogs that bark" symbolize criticisms, challenges, or distractions that may arise during the pursuit of those goals. In essence, it suggests that progress requires focus and resilience in the face of adversity, rather than wasting time and energy on irrelevant matters.


"The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary." - This quote is actually by Nicolas Chamfort, but Stephen Furst was known for sharing it often.

This quote underscores that success is not achieved without effort. The sequence of 'success' before 'work' only applies when we look up the word 'success' in a dictionary - as it defines what success means. In real life, hard work comes first, followed by the potential for success. It serves as a reminder that perseverance and dedication are essential elements on the path to achievement.


I remember I made $22 a week doing dinner theater in Norfolk, Virginia. Back then, in the '70s, that was pretty good for a teenager, for a part-time job.

- Stephen Furst

Doing, I Remember, Pretty, Part-Time

The way to deal with the devil of obesity and diabetes is literally one day at a time.

- Stephen Furst

One Day At A Time, Deal, Diabetes

When my parents died, they both were 47, and they died of complications of different diseases, one being diabetes. I became a diabetic at 17 and went on this road of kind of self-destruction, eating-wise, until I was 40.

- Stephen Furst

Died, Became, Diabetic, Diabetes

I've become a representative of the American Diabetes Association, and then I just became national spokesman for the American Heart Association for a campaign called The Heart of Diabetes, which brings the awareness of cardio-vascular disease to diabetics.

- Stephen Furst

Which, Became, Spokesman, Diabetes

I finally admitted that obesity and diabetes were part of a life-threatening legacy - and I had to deal with that reality or die.

- Stephen Furst

Die, Deal, Admitted, Life-Threatening

I went to high school in Virginia Beach, Va., and we had these guys - they were surfers. They didn't like me, never talked to me. And if they didn't like you, they threw toothpicks at you. After I did a play, it was different. I found out I was pretty good at something.

- Stephen Furst

Good, Play, Had, VA

The first time I ever did a play, in junior high school, I said to myself, 'Hey, people like me doing this. I'm making them laugh.'

- Stephen Furst

Play, Doing, High, Hey

I tell people I'm on a diet. If somebody sees me with a muffin, they'll think I'm off my diet. It's like secret little police that I've made for myself.

- Stephen Furst

Think, Like, Made, Muffin

I'll make a diet cheesecake, but I'll put it in a Sara Lee box. Or I'll have a huge bowl of pasta, but it's actually just a cup of pasta - the rest is vegetables. It makes me feel less deprived.

- Stephen Furst

Rest, Feel, Makes, Cheesecake

When you left this one theater in Norfolk, the actors had to walk through the lobby to get out to the street. People would see you and say nice things, tell you that you were good. So, pretty soon I'm pretending to forget things backstage, going through the lobby a couple of times.

- Stephen Furst

Pretending, Through, Couple, Backstage

When my parents died they both were 47, and they died of complications of different diseases; one being diabetes.

- Stephen Furst

Complications, Diseases, Diabetes

I didn't get a Bachelor's degree - I got a Bachelor's of Fine Arts, which means I didn't have to take humanities, math, and stuff like that. I think I had to take Art History, which I failed a few times.

- Stephen Furst

I Think, Got, Had, Humanities

I'm one of the most insecure people in the world, always have been, and when you're a fat kid, you try to make the fat jokes before other people make them.

- Stephen Furst

Always, Other, Been, Jokes

When I was a child, I used to eat sugar Frosted Flakes with chocolate milk, but I digest, I mean digress.

- Stephen Furst

Mean, Milk, Used, Sugar

I felt different from everyone else - like an alien. The looks I received when I was 320 pounds were ones usually reserved for three-eyed monsters, half-man half-woman reptiles, creatures with hideous rolls of skin that sweated profusely and jiggled when they walked. That last one really was me.

- Stephen Furst

Skin, Alien, Reptiles, Pounds

When I auditioned for 'Animal House,' I had only done some plays at a local dinner theater in Virginia.

- Stephen Furst

Some, Plays, Animal House, Virginia

The first thing I did on my diet was take the batteries out of the remote control and make myself get up and change the channel. That's probably the hardest exercise I did.

- Stephen Furst

Change, Myself, Batteries, The First Thing

I had a great childhood, a very close-knit family. We were all overweight, and we had good times eating together, I imagine.

- Stephen Furst

Childhood, Very, Imagine, Overweight

Like most severely overweight people, I had to hit a rock-hard bottom before I'd take responsibility for the consequences of neglecting my own health.

- Stephen Furst

Like, Before, Neglecting, Overweight

I also have a degree in marriage, family and child counseling - I'm a therapist.

- Stephen Furst

Marriage, Degree, Counseling, Therapist

You can eat a lot more vegetables than you can cotton candy. Bring on the veggies. Stay away from the fluffy carbs.

- Stephen Furst

Candy, Away, Carbs, Stay

One of the key things I did to stay on my diet is I never allowed myself to get hungry. As soon as I got hungry, I'd eat healthy foods.

- Stephen Furst

Myself, Foods, Allowed, Hungry

The magic is you can change more things than you could ever dream of.

- Stephen Furst

Dream, More, Ever, Magic

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