--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ordinary American - as far as I can…" description: "\"The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so much less than he did fifty years ago and has such poor work habits compared with fifty years a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg" --- # The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so… ![“The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so much less than he did fifty years ago and has such poor work habits compared with fifty years ago that the average multiplicand of knowledge/capabilities is a much smaller number than it was in 1961.” quote by Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg) > “The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so much less than he did fifty years ago and has such poor work habits compared with fifty years ago that the average multiplicand of knowledge/capabilities is a much smaller number than it was in 1961.” [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. Knowledge and work habits have declined over generations, reducing overall capability. **In simple terms:** Modern society knows less and works less efficiently. Key Takeaway Invest in lifelong learning and disciplined work. Themes education decline work ethic erosion generational shift Mood concerned analytical Type social commentary observational When to use this quote - corporate training - policy making - personal development Key Concepts human capital skill depreciation productivity trends Questions to Reflect On - How can we revitalize work habits? - What role should education play? A Different Perspective Technological aids may offset some loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [When you grow up poor, you have to either work really hard to try and get where you want to be, or you'll just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/when-you-grow-up-poor-you-have-to-either-work-really-hard-to-try-and/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [People with good work habits have to-do lists that are reasonably prioritized, and they make themselves do what needs to be done. By contrast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/people-with-good-work-habits-have-to-do-lists-that-are-reasonably/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [In reality, most of America's poor work hard, often in two or more jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/in-reality-most-of-america-s-poor-work-hard-often-in-two-or-more-jobs/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [No Ordinary American Cares About Their Constitutional Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-ordinary-american-cares-about-their-constitutional-rights/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The fact is every single day in the ordinary American people, America's families have to make decisions about their families and that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-fact-is-every-single-day-in-the-ordinary-american-people-america/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I came out of Capitol Hill. Well, that's just not an ordinary background for a writer of the ordinary American sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-came-out-of-capitol-hill-well-that-s-just-not-an-ordinary/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [My father knows more about sports than any human being out there. He relaxes. The ribbing that we give each at the Christmas holidays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/my-father-knows-more-about-sports-than-any-human-being-out-there-he/) [Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/) > [“Because these characters perform against the vast backdrops of American politics and social upheaval, and because their personal destinies, their wishes, and their dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-hall/because-these-characters-perform-against-the-vast-backdrops-of/) James W. Hall > [The ordinary American voter does not object to mediocrity. He likes his candidate to be sensible, vigorous, and, above all, what he calls 'magnetic,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryce/the-ordinary-american-voter-does-not-object-to-mediocrity-he-likes/) [James Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryce/) > [It is natural for the ordinary American when he sees something wrong to feel not only that there should be a law against it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-myrdal/it-is-natural-for-the-ordinary-american-when-he-sees-something-wrong/) [Gunnar Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-myrdal/) > [There was a time when an ordinary American could close the door and keep the world at bay. Now the world comes elbowing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/there-was-a-time-when-an-ordinary-american-could-close-the-door-and/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [I am particularly looking forward to meeting ordinary American people and hearing about their extraordinary lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-kyle/i-am-particularly-looking-forward-to-meeting-ordinary-american-people/) [Jeremy Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-kyle/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) ## More by Ben Stein > [I think, there are many people who are much smarter than I am, and many, many, many who are much harder-working than I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-think-there-are-many-people-who-are-much-smarter-than-i-am-and-many/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Emperor Sid Caesar is gone to eternity himself now. He takes with him the gratitude of every one of us who first learned the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/emperor-sid-caesar-is-gone-to-eternity-himself-now-he-takes-with-him/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [I am back in LA now. And I keep thinking back to my time in New York after the bombings… I was crying so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-am-back-in-la-now-and-i-keep-thinking-back-to-my-time-in-new-york/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-m-not-a-mensa-member-i-have-no-idea-where-that-rumor-came-from-i/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [The successful people of this world take life as it comes. They just go out and deal with the world as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-successful-people-of-this-world-take-life-as-it-comes-they-just/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [It's really amazing that in the age of unbelief, as a smart man called it, there isn't even more fraud. After all, with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/it-s-really-amazing-that-in-the-age-of-unbelief-as-a-smart-man-called/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [It is so great to sleep in safe, glorious, beautiful America. 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. It seems as if I were 25 just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-have-to-tell-you-i-never-in-my-life-anticipated-getting-this-old/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Yes, Americans can still get credit for cars and trucks and refrigerators, and those businesses are doing well. But just try to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/yes-americans-can-still-get-credit-for-cars-and-trucks-and/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [For any exam in history, here is the answer: all human history is the struggle between systems that attempt to shackle the human personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/for-any-exam-in-history-here-is-the-answer-all-human-history-is-the/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [But when I talk to people who are Darwinists or evolutionists and say, 'Well, how did life begin' -- they're...they don't have an answer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/but-when-i-talk-to-people-who-are-darwinists-or-evolutionists-and-say/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/personal-relationships-are-the-fertile-soil-from-which-all/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [I always assumed scientists were free to ask any question, pursue any line of inquiry without fear or reprisal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-always-assumed-scientists-were-free-to-ask-any-question-pursue-any/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) [Explore all 153 Ben Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so much less than he did fifty years ago and has such poor work habits compared with fifty years ago that the average multiplicand of knowledge/capabilities is a much smaller number than it was in 1961.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Stein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-tell-knows-so-much-less-than-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-tell-knows-so-much-less-than-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/ben-stein-2703_american_the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-te_320757.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ordinary American - as far as I can tell - knows so much less than he did fifty years ago and has such…” — Ben Stein", "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 Stein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ordinary American - as far...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-tell-knows-so-much-less-than-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-ordinary-american-as-far-as-i-can-tell-knows-so-much-less-than-he/#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 } } ] } ```