The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want. Ben Stein More Quotes by Ben Stein More Quotes From Ben Stein 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 californialawteacher 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 treebeautifulpeople 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 runningpeoplefirsts The sad fact is that spending rises every year, no matter what people want or say they want. Ben Stein wantpeopleyears I'm an economist by training. I don't really work as an economist. I only worked briefly as an economist. Ben Stein economisttraining 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 takenmilitarythinking Science should always be in the business of attempting to disprove itself. Ben Stein attemptingshould 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 ableusedwant 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 governmentpayneeds 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 americapeopleschool 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 grandchildrenwantpeople Running a real business is exacting, daunting, repetitive work. Even in Silicon Valley. Ben Stein valleysrealrunning I am scared of getting old. I am scared of being ill. Ben Stein getting-oldscaredill 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 rumordoubtideas When Hollywood sees a good story about a man who sells confidence, they see themselves and they like it. Ben Stein hollywoodstoriesmen If there is no God, then man sometimes thinks he is god, and sometimes tries to live like a god. Ben Stein tryingmenthinking 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 issuesnumbersthinking 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 beautifulmenyears 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 ifsseems 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 recklesslendinggood-times
