--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's crazy that in a country where…" description: "\"It's crazy that in a country where schools are falling apart, we're spending $20 billion on nuclear weapons.\" — Ben Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg" --- # It's crazy that in a country where schools are falling… ![“It's crazy that in a country where schools are falling apart, we're spending $20 billion on nuclear weapons.” quote by Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg) > “It's crazy that in a country where schools are falling apart, we're spending $20 billion on nuclear weapons.” [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the paradox of underfunded schools versus massive spending on nuclear weapons. **In simple terms:** Schools suffer while military spending soars. Key Takeaway Prioritize education funding. Themes education military spending budget priorities Mood concerned urgent Type political social When to use this quote - budget meetings - parent-teacher conferences - public forums Key Concepts public schools defense budget national security Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens influence budget decisions? - What are the long‑term impacts of this imbalance? A Different Perspective Fiscal constraints limit reallocation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Pentagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentagon/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [One of the things I'm proudest of is, on my record 'That Was the Year that Was' in 1965, I made a joke about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/one-of-the-things-i-m-proudest-of-is-on-my-record-that-was-the-year/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [I mean, the thought of someone spending $20 to come and see me and saying 'Oh, I prefer the record and she's completely shattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-mean-the-thought-of-someone-spending-20-to-come-and-see-me-and/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [ \[ Uncle Sam\] is not sending 20 billion dollars to South America because he loves those people down here. He's sending it - sending… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/uncle-sam-is-not-sending-20-billion-dollars-to-south-america-because/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [By 2013, we had 200 million people using 'Instagram' every month and over 20 billion photos stored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krieger/by-2013-we-had-200-million-people-using-instagram-every-month-and/) [Mike Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krieger/) > [ Why should \[Uncle Sam\] send 20 billion dollars down there \[South America\], which is going to go down the drain every time you have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/why-should-uncle-sam-send-20-billion-dollars-down-there-south-america/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We plan to spend 20 billion lari ($12 billion) from the budget in the next four years on implementation of all tasks presented in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vano-merabishvili/we-plan-to-spend-20-billion-lari-12-billion-from-the-budget-in-the/) [Vano Merabishvili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vano-merabishvili/) > [I absolutely don't have $20 billion. But I'd love to, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-absolutely-don-t-have-20-billion-but-i-d-love-to-right/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I think that they hoped the private sector would come in. And the private sector tried to come in until they saw the size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-think-that-they-hoped-the-private-sector-would-come-in-and-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [If this government can send 20 billion dollars to Latin America to some peasants who have never fought for this country or worked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-this-government-can-send-20-billion-dollars-to-latin-america-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We've been in a recession, by any common sense definition, because if you look at the American public, they've got 20 billion - 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-ve-been-in-a-recession-by-any-common-sense-definition-because-if/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I don't want to revisit history or try to re-interpret it, you know, but starting from where we are now, given the experience that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-don-t-want-to-revisit-history-or-try-to-re-interpret-it-you-know/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Current levels of Pentagon spending may not be able to support current defense strategy. The answer to this problem is right before our eyes:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hartung/current-levels-of-pentagon-spending-may-not-be-able-to-support/) William Hartung > [It was right after 9/11 and I decided to walk around the grounds of the Pentagon, because I had never been there. Out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/it-was-right-after-9-11-and-i-decided-to-walk-around-the-grounds-of/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Pentagon records show that at least 8,000 members of the all-volunteer U.S. Army have deserted since the Iraq war began. Hey, at least somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/pentagon-records-show-that-at-least-8-000-members-of-the-all/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More by Ben Cohen > [If we reduced the amount we spend on maintaining our nuclear weapons by a small fraction, we could reallocate those funds to improve kids'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/if-we-reduced-the-amount-we-spend-on-maintaining-our-nuclear-weapons/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [Having the equivalent of 150,000 Hiroshima-sized bombs at the ready does nothing to protect us from terrorists planning to sneak in a bomb through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/having-the-equivalent-of-150-000-hiroshima-sized-bombs-at-the-ready/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [Business has a responsibility to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/business-has-a-responsibility-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [I don't believe that just because one person is born on one side of some imaginary line and another person is born on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/i-don-t-believe-that-just-because-one-person-is-born-on-one-side-of/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [We decided to redefine the bottom line at Ben & Jerry's](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/we-decided-to-redefine-the-bottom-line-at-ben-jerry-s/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [We learned that a product doesn't sell just because you're trying to do good in the world. You still have to have a healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/we-learned-that-a-product-doesn-t-sell-just-because-you-re-trying-to/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [“he derives the utmost pleasure from leading a player across “the bridge of finding out who he was and who he has to be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/he-derives-the-utmost-pleasure-from-leading-a-player-across-the/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [When business starts using its voice for the benefit of the country as a whole, not just in its narrow self interest, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/when-business-starts-using-its-voice-for-the-benefit-of-the-country/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [As we help others, we cannot help but help ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/as-we-help-others-we-cannot-help-but-help-ourselves/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [The key to growing a business is that you need to be meeting some segment of the consumer's needs. If you've got a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/the-key-to-growing-a-business-is-that-you-need-to-be-meeting-some/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [Never trust a skinny ice cream man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/never-trust-a-skinny-ice-cream-man/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [Without question, the balance of power on the planet today lies in the hands of business. Corporations rival governments in wealth, influence, and power.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/without-question-the-balance-of-power-on-the-planet-today-lies-in-the/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [Business is the most powerful force in society. It has the highest potential for solving social problems. Once consumers saw examples of prosperous companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/business-is-the-most-powerful-force-in-society-it-has-the-highest/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [If you're aware of injustice, you can either ignore it, say there is nothing you can do about it, complain about it and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/if-you-re-aware-of-injustice-you-can-either-ignore-it-say-there-is/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) > [There is a spiritual aspect to our lives - when we give, we receive-when a business does something good for somebody, that somebody feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/there-is-a-spiritual-aspect-to-our-lives-when-we-give-we-receive-when/) [Ben Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) [Explore all 16 Ben Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/) ## More Billions quotes > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The universe is simmering down, like a giant stew left to cook for four billion years. Sooner or later we won’t be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/the-universe-is-simmering-down-like-a-giant-stew-left-to-cook-for/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [If Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh, He's one of a kind of the 13 billions of people who have ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/if-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-in-human-flesh-he-s-one-of-a-kind-of-the/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [Here we were talking about economic development, about investing billions of dollars in various programs, and I could see it wasn't billions of dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/here-we-were-talking-about-economic-development-about-investing/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [Everyone thinks they've won the Magical Belief Lottery. Everyone thinks they more or less have a handle on things, that they, as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/everyone-thinks-they-ve-won-the-magical-belief-lottery-everyone/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The technology involved in making anything invisible is so infinitely complex that nine hundred and ninety-nine billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-technology-involved-in-making-anything-invisible-is-so-infinitely/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form is therefore highly improbable even to the scale of the billions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-prigogine/the-idea-of-spontaneous-generation-of-life-in-its-present-form-is/) [Ilya Prigogine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-prigogine/) > [To defy heredity is to defy billions of years, to defy the first cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/to-defy-heredity-is-to-defy-billions-of-years-to-defy-the-first-cell/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) Browse all 1,864 Billions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's crazy that in a country where schools are falling apart, we're spending $20 billion on nuclear weapons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schools-are-falling-apart-we-re/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schools-are-falling-apart-we-re/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/760/ben-cohen-31715_billions_it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schoo_909954.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's crazy that in a country where schools are falling apart, we're spending $20 billion on nuclear weapons.” — Ben Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's crazy that in a country...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schools-are-falling-apart-we-re/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-cohen/it-s-crazy-that-in-a-country-where-schools-are-falling-apart-we-re/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```