Josh Lieb: Rob Bank You Own

Meaning of Josh Lieb Money Quote: saying there is no need to be a bank robber if you own the bank because you have ready access to money. Josh Lieb said:

 

 

“Crime is for poor people. You don’t need to rob the bank if you own it” — Josh Lieb

In this quote, Josh Lieb is making a commentary on wealth, power and crime. By stating “Crime is for poor people” and contrasting it with owning a bank, Lieb implies that those who are already extremely wealthy do not need to resort to illegal acts like robbery to acquire money.

The implication is that tremendous wealth can effectively shield one from having to engage in criminal behavior out of financial necessity. Overall, Lieb seems to be observing how affluence can place one beyond the reach of the legal system and reduce the incentives to break the law, for better or worse.

Jesse Ventura: White Collar Crime

Jesse Ventura Money Quote saying those committing petty theft because they want to feed their family pay with more severe consequences than white-collar criminals who take far more. Jesse Ventura said:
 

 

“My father used to always say to me that, you know, if a guy goes out to steal a loaf of bread to feed his family, they’ll give him 10 years, but a guy can do white-collar crime and steal the money of thousands and he’ll get probation and a slap on the wrist” — Jesse Ventura

In this quote, former professional wrestler and politician Jesse Ventura is criticizing disparities in how different types of crimes are punished. He suggests the justice system is less harsh on “white-collar crimes” like financial fraud that affect many victims, compared to property crimes committed by those in poverty out of desperation to provide for their families.

Ventura implies this double standard is unfair, as the impacts of white-collar offenses can be extensively damaging while receiving relatively light penalties. Overall, the quote aims to draw attention to perceived inequities, where Ventura views the punishment as not fitting the crime depending on one’s social class or the nature of the offense.

Jerry Garcia: Money is a Problem

Jerry Garcia Money Quote saying we focus much of our attention on problems rather that aren’t related. Jerry Garcia said:
 

 

“I think it’s too bad that everybody’s decided to turn on drugs, I don’t think drugs are the problem. Crime is the problem. Cops are the problem. Money’s the problem. But drugs are just drugs” — Jerry Garcia

In this quote, Jerry Garcia seems to be challenging the view that recreational drugs themselves are the primary problem or cause of societal issues. By stating that “drugs are just drugs” but that “crime is the problem. Cops are the problem. Money’s the problem”, Garcia implies that drugs become problematic due more to how they intersect with other systemic failures and inequities, rather than being inherently destructive in isolation.

The quote conveys Garcia’s perspective that the “war on drugs” oversimplifies complex problems, and that drugs are criminalized more for political reasons than their pharmacology. Overall, Garcia appears to be arguing for a more nuanced understanding of drugs as one small piece of larger, interconnected challenges facing communities, rather than scapegoating substances alone for deep-rooted economic and legal issues that shape their use and consequences.

Birthday: August 1, 1942 – Death: August 9, 1995

Howard Zinn: Rich & Powerful Unpunished

Howard Zinn Money Quote saying imprisonment for being poor and desperate is pointless and most rich criminals go without consequences that the poor must endure. Howard Zinn said:
 

 

“[Prison] is a cruel and useless substitute for the elimination of those conditions — poverty, unemployment, homelessness, desperation, racism, greed — which are at the root of most punished crime. The crimes of the rich and powerful go mostly unpunished” — Howard Zinn

In this quote, Howard Zinn criticizes the overreliance on prisons as a solution to crime without addressing its root causes. He argues that imprisonment is a “cruel and useless substitute” for actually tackling problems like poverty, joblessness, lack of housing, desperation and racism that often underlie unlawful behavior among the disadvantaged.

Zinn also points out a double standard, noting that while the crimes of ordinary citizens are harshly punished, the illicit acts of the wealthy and powerful tend to face less consequences. He seems to be implying that an equitable justice system should work to eliminate unjust social conditions driving criminal behavior, rather than just incarcerating offenders, and also apply punishment equally regardless of class.

Overall, the quote conveys Zinn’s view that relying primarily on prisons to deal with crime is misguided when the social inequities fueling law-breaking are left unaddressed, and that a fair system would work to remedy underlying injustices while also holding all classes accountable for unlawful behavior.

Birthday: August 24, 1922 – Death: January 27, 2010

Honore de Balzac: Great Fortunes & Crime

Honore de Balzac Money Quote saying Funny money quote that seems to fit many inexplicable fortunes. Honore de Balzac said:
 

“The secret of a great fortune made without apparent cause is soon forgotten, if the crime is committed in a respectable way” — Honore de Balzac

In this quote, Honore de Balzac is making an observation about how sudden, unexplained wealth gained through illicit or questionable means can escape scrutiny if presented respectably.

Balzac suggests that if a “great fortune” is amassed in a way that seems to lack legitimate cause or justification, yet is coupled with an outward appearance of propriety and respectability, then the “crime” or unethical acts that enabled it may soon be forgotten and overlooked by others.

The quote conveys that maintaining a veneer of decorum and conducting oneself with an air of prestige can allow some to get away with accumulating riches through covertly disreputable channels, as long as the precise means are obscured from public view.

Balzac seems to be cautioning that not all wealth of mysterious origin should be taken at face value, as crimes committed beneath a polished exterior may evade detection and memory over time.

Birthday: May 20, 1799 – Death: August 18, 1850

Christian Bovee: Poverty Treated as Crime

Christian Bovee Money Quote saying we should not see being poor as unfortunate circumstances except that everyone mostly sees poverty as a crime. Christian Nestell Bovee said:
 

 

“We should not so much esteem our poverty as a misfortune, were it not that the world treats it so much as a crime” — Christian Nestell Bovee

In this quote, Christian Nestell Bovee seems to be commenting on how poverty is often stigmatized and viewed with disdain in some societies. Some key points:

• Bovee suggests that poverty itself would not feel so unfortunate or burdensome if it were not for how “the world treats it so much as a crime.”
• This implies that poverty is frequently seen as some kind of moral failing or character flaw by others, rather than an outcome outside an individual’s control.
• Bovee appears to believe that poverty becomes a much heavier burden psychologically due to the shame, blame and social disadvantages that come from how others tend to judge and make assumptions about those experiencing lack of financial means.
• For Bovee, it is the tendency of societies and communities to condemn and ostracize the poor that makes their circumstances truly miserable, beyond just the lack of resources itself.

Overall, the quote conveys Bovee’s perspective that poverty is exacerbated and its impacts compounded by the stigma, disapproval and disadvantages imposed by wider societal attitudes that treat impoverishment as a personal defect or transgression rather than an outcome with many potential contributing causes beyond an individual’s choices alone.

Birthday: February 22, 1820 – Death: January 18, 1904

Seneca: Crime Committed by Profits

Seneca Money Quote saying that those that benefit from criminal acts have as good as committed them. Seneca said:
 

 

“He has committed the crime who profits by it” — Seneca

In this quote, Seneca appears to be saying that a person should not be considered solely responsible for committing a criminal act if another has benefited or profited from the crime. Anyone who gains advantage from an illegal or unethical deed could also be seen as complicit, even if they did not directly perpetrate the act itself.

Seneca seems to be suggesting that profiting from wrongdoing can make one as culpable as the one who directly carried out the criminal plans or actions. So according to this interpretation, Seneca believes that both the perpetrator and the beneficiary are responsible in some way for the “crime.”

Birthday: c. 4 BC – Death: AD 65

Aristotle: Parent of Revolution is Poverty

Aristotle Money Quote saying the condition of being poor births criminals and breeds revolution. Aristotle said:
 

“Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime” — Aristotle

In this quote, Aristotle seems to be making the observation that poverty is often a cause or contributing factor to social instability in the form of revolution and increased crime.

His point appears to be that when many people live in conditions of poverty without hope of improving their situation, it can breed resentment, unrest and desperation that leads some to engage in criminal acts or join revolutionary movements seeking radical change.

Aristotle’s statement suggests he believed that too much inequality and widespread poverty weakens a society and challenges political order by creating an environment where people are more likely to lash out or rise up against the status quo.

The quote implies Aristotle saw addressing poverty through economic and social reforms as important for maintaining peace and stability within a populace.

Birthday: January 6, 384 BC – Death: March 7, 322 BC