--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we try to engineer outcomes, if we…" description: "\"If we try to engineer outcomes, if we overturn tradition to make everyone the same, we ruin society. If we upset tradition to allow for an equal shot a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/ben-stein-2703_charlatans_if-we-try-to-engineer-outcomes-if-we-ove_1357505.jpg" --- # If we try to engineer outcomes, if we overturn tradition… ![“If we try to engineer outcomes, if we overturn tradition to make everyone the same, we ruin society. If we upset tradition to allow for an equal shot at the starting gate, everyone wins, except for the charlatans and would be dictators.” quote by Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/ben-stein-2703_charlatans_if-we-try-to-engineer-outcomes-if-we-ove_1357505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/ben-stein-2703_charlatans_if-we-try-to-engineer-outcomes-if-we-ove_1357505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/ben-stein-2703_charlatans_if-we-try-to-engineer-outcomes-if-we-ove_1357505.jpg) > “If we try to engineer outcomes, if we overturn tradition to make everyone the same, we ruin society. If we upset tradition to allow for an equal shot at the starting gate, everyone wins, except for the charlatans and would be dictators.” [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to force uniform outcomes by overturning tradition harms society; allowing equal opportunity benefits all, except exploiters. **In simple terms:** Uniformity harms; equality helps. Key Takeaway Promote fair chances, guard against abuse. Themes equality tradition society politics Mood analytical critical Type political sociological When to use this quote - education policy - employment practices - economic reforms Key Concepts social engineering justice power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How to balance tradition with fairness? - What safeguards prevent exploitation? A Different Perspective Equality can be superficial; power can still dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charlatans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charlatans/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Gate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gate/) [Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gates/) [Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes/) [Outcomes Overturn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes-overturn-4635388/) [Overturn Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overturn-tradition-4635385/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Tradition Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-allow-4635386/) [Tradition Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-make-4635389/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Upset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upset/) [Upset Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upset-tradition-4635387/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [The soldier's business is to take life. 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They fake it very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mcburney/in-my-opinion-there-s-nothing-new-in-the-theatre-ever-theatre-makers/) [Simon McBurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mcburney/) > [“Here's to the charlatans, the pretenders, the pawns and the knights. For without them, this play would have no kings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus/here-s-to-the-charlatans-the-pretenders-the-pawns-and-the-knights-for/) [Atticus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus/) > [Theatre artists are essentially sort of charlatans and thieves, I mean that's the tradition that we come from, so I have absolutely no, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mcburney/theatre-artists-are-essentially-sort-of-charlatans-and-thieves-i-mean/) [Simon McBurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mcburney/) > [If I did only one thing at a time I'd think I was wasting my time. 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I just cannot get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/it-is-so-great-to-sleep-in-safe-glorious-beautiful-america-i-just/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [The first step in getting what you want from life-decide what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-first-step-in-getting-what-you-want-from-life-decide-what-you-want/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [And now, any of those who refuse, or are unable, to prove they are citizens will receive free insurance paid for by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/and-now-any-of-those-who-refuse-or-are-unable-to-prove-they-are/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [I have to tell you I never in my life anticipated getting this old, this fast. 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