Ned Beatty: System of Currency

Ned Beatty Money Quote saying in his role as Arthur Jensen in ‘Network’ that international finance outweighs everything. Ned Beatty said:
 

 

“There are no nations. There are no peoples. There are no Russians. There are no Arabs. There are no third worlds. There is no West! There is only one holistic system of systems, one vast and immane, interwoven, interacting, multi-variate, multi-national dominion of dollars. Petro-dollars, electro-dollars, multi-dollars, Reichmarks, rins, rubles, pounds and shekels. It is the international system of currency which determines the totality of life on this planet” — Ned Beatty

This quote from Ned Beatty’s character in the film “Network” (1976) is a powerful critique of global capitalism. The best interpretation is that it suggests:

• Traditional boundaries and identities are becoming irrelevant.
• The world is governed by a single, interconnected financial system.
• Money and economic interests supersede national allegiances
• This global financial system controls all aspects of life worldwide.
• Different currencies are merely facets of this all-encompassing system.

Essentially, the quote argues that economic forces have become the true rulers of our world, transcending political and cultural divisions.

Birthday: July 6, 1937 – Death: June 13, 2021

Robert Mundell: World Currency

Robert Mundell Money Quote saying as a Nobel prize winning Canadian economist and father of the ‘Euro’ that a worldwide currency would be valuable. Robert Mundell said:
 

 

“The benefits from a world currency would be enormous” — Robert Mundell

This quote from Robert Mundell is expressing the view that establishing a single world currency could potentially have significant economic benefits on a global scale.

Some of the benefits Mundell may have been referring to include increased trade and investment flows between countries, reduced exchange rate volatility and transaction costs, greater monetary policy coordination, and more stability in the global financial system.

However, moving to a world currency would also involve major challenges, such as gaining agreement among nations on its design and governance, as well as balancing sovereignty concerns over monetary policy.

Overall, Mundell seems to have believed that the economic integration and interdependence created by a world currency could outweigh the difficulties, though there are reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue.

Birthday: October 24, 1932 – Death: April 4, 2021

Rod Steiger: Spend Time Currency

Rod Steiger Money Quote saying time must be spent and cannot be saved or hoarded. Rod Steiger said:
 

 

“Time is the most important currency, but once you spend it, it’s gone” — Rod Steiger

In this quote, Rod Steiger seems to be emphasizing the fleeting yet invaluable nature of time. By stating that time is the “most important currency” but once spent it’s “gone”, Steiger implies that while time functions like money in its ability to purchase experiences, opportunities, relationships and accomplishments, unlike money it cannot be replenished once used.

The quote conveys Steiger’s perspective that time is our most precious commodity, yet it continually slips away irreversibly as we live our lives. Overall, he appears to be advocating mindfulness of the limited and non-renewable resource of time, and suggesting we invest our hours deliberately into what truly matters since, like money, time spent can never be reclaimed once gone.

Birthday: April 14, 1925 – Death: July 9, 2002

Thomas A. Edison: Issue Bonds

Thomas A. Edison Money Quote saying that the country should be able to print currency and not only bonds. Thomas A. Edison said:
 

 

“It is absurd to say our country can issue bonds and cannot issue currency. Both are promises to pay, but one fattens the usurer and the other helps the people” — Thomas A. Edison

In this quote, Thomas Edison is contrasting bonds and currency issued by a country. Bonds are debt instruments where the government borrows money from lenders (“usurers”) and pays interest, which Edison says “fattens” or enriches those lenders.

However, he argues that for a nation to directly issue its own currency through mechanisms like the printing of paper money does not burden taxpayers with interest payments and instead “helps the people” by stimulating the broader economy.

Edison’s view is that since governments can legitimately take on debt by issuing bonds, they should also have the power to directly fund activities by producing currency rather than being entirely reliant on borrowing from private sources. He questions why one financial tool is seen as acceptable while the other is not, when both essentially represent promises to pay by the issuing authority.

Birthday: February 11, 1847 – Death: October 18, 1931

Fred Van Amburgh: Gratitude Mint

Fred De Witt Van Amburgh Money Quote saying nobody without gratitude can make money unless they are able to spend freely. Fred De Witt Van Amburgh said:
 

 

“None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy” — Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

In this quote, Fred De Witt Van Amburgh is emphasizing the value of cultivating an attitude of gratitude. He states that those who lack gratitude are in a sense the most impoverished, as they are unable to appreciate what they do have.

Then he continues the metaphor of gratitude being a type of “currency” that each person has the power to generate within themselves through their own perspective and mindset.

Unlike money which can run out, Van Amburgh asserts that expressing gratitude costs nothing and is a renewable resource we can freely “mint” and “spend” without limit. The overall message is that choosing to be grateful for life’s blessings makes us wealthy in ways that transcend financial means, as it enriches our mental well-being and interpersonal relationships.

Paul Volcker: Global Currency

Paul Volcker Money Quote saying something that has a new meaning (cryptocurrency) he might not have intended when he said it. Paul Volcker said:
 

 

“A global economy requires a global currency” — Paul Volcker

In this quote, Paul Volcker is suggesting that as the world’s economies become increasingly interconnected on a global scale through trade and financial integration, it would be logical to have a single unified global currency to facilitate international commerce and transactions. As long as individual nations maintain their own sovereign currencies, it adds complexity for multinational corporations and traders to navigate multiple exchange rates.

A global currency could potentially reduce currency volatility and exchange rate risks, lower transaction costs, and make valuation comparisons easier across borders. However, establishing a global currency would also require unprecedented cooperation between nations and a willingness to cede some monetary policy autonomy, which remains a major political challenge. Overall, Volcker is highlighting how the realities of an interdependent global economic system point toward having a single worldwide currency to match.

Birthday: September 5, 1927 – December 8, 2019

Greta Thunberg: Carbon Budget Left

Greta Thunberg Money Quote saying it must be just as important to understand carbon budget when decision making on spending. Greta Thunberg said:
 

 

“We should no longer only ask: “Have we got enough money to go through with this?” but also: “Have we got enough of the carbon budget to spare to go through with this?” That should and must become the centre of our new currency” — Greta Thunberg

In this quote, Greta Thunberg is advocating for a major shift in how economic and financial decisions are made. She argues that rather than primarily considering whether there is enough money or financial resources for a project or activity, decision-makers should also ask whether there is enough remaining carbon budget to spare for it in light of the climate crisis.

By “carbon budget,” she is referring to the limited remaining greenhouse gas emissions that can be released while still keeping global warming within safer limits. Thunberg wants carbon impact and sustainability to become the new central criteria of our economic “currency” or framework, rather than just monetary costs and benefits.

She believes this perspective needs to take precedence over traditional financial concerns in order to adequately address the climate emergency.

Stephen Colbert: Trump on Hush Money

Stephen Colbert Money Quote saying we pay tribute to our most revered leaders by putting them on currency. Donald Trump perfectly represents ‘Hush Money’ after paying pornstars and nude models to keep quiet about their affairs with him. Stephen Colbert said:
 

 
“The greatest presidents are honored, they end up on our currency. Donald Trump could end up on our hush money” — Stephen Colbert
 

Stephen Colbert is making a joke at Donald Trump’s expense. He’s referring to the fact that some of the greatest U.S. presidents, such as Washington, Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt, have had their portraits featured on American currency like dollar bills and coins.

However, Colbert suggests that given the allegations of hush money payments made during Trump’s presidency to cover up affairs, it would be more fitting for Trump’s image to end up on that kind of “currency” – a humorous way of saying the only place Trump deserves to be featured is on bills related to secret payoffs rather than legitimate banknotes.

The best interpretation is that Colbert is comically implying Trump is not deserving of true presidential honors due to the scandals surrounding him.

Late Show Stephen Colbert

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— Muckmaker™ (@RealMuckmaker) December 17, 2018