--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a capitalist. I believe that people…" description: "\"I'm a capitalist. I believe that people take risk, and there are rewards if they do well; they should lose if they don't.\" — Harold Ford, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/harold-ford-jr-19184_believe_i-m-a-capitalist-i-believe-that-people-t_1718204.png" --- # I'm a capitalist. I believe that people take risk, and… ![“I'm a capitalist. I believe that people take risk, and there are rewards if they do well; they should lose if they don't.” quote by Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/harold-ford-jr-19184_believe_i-m-a-capitalist-i-believe-that-people-t_1718204.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/harold-ford-jr-19184_believe_i-m-a-capitalist-i-believe-that-people-t_1718204.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/harold-ford-jr-19184_believe_i-m-a-capitalist-i-believe-that-people-t_1718204.png) > “I'm a capitalist. I believe that people take risk, and there are rewards if they do well; they should lose if they don't.” [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that risk-taking should be rewarded and failure penalized in a capitalist system. **In simple terms:** Risk takers deserve rewards; losers face consequences. Key Takeaway Consider fairness of risk-reward balance. Themes economics justice capitalism Mood analytical critical Type argument political stance When to use this quote - business decisions - investment strategies - policy debates Key Concepts incentives meritocracy risk management Questions to Reflect On - Is risk always measurable? - How to protect against undue loss? A Different Perspective Risk assessment can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that people take risk, and there are rewards if they do well; they should lose if they don’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-believe-that-people-take-risk-and-there-are-rewards-if-they-do-well/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I'm a capitalist, and I believe that universal basic income is necessary for capitalism to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-m-a-capitalist-and-i-believe-that-universal-basic-income-is/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [“Government is never the solution, but it is almost always a problem. I'm a capitalist. And I believe in effort and progress and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/government-is-never-the-solution-but-it-is-almost-always-a-problem-i/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [I'm a capitalist. I believe in capitalism. But capitalism only works if you have safety nets to deal with people who are naturally left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-a-capitalist-i-believe-in-capitalism-but-capitalism-only-works-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I am a capitalist and I believe in making a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-rohatyn/i-am-a-capitalist-and-i-believe-in-making-a-profit/) [Felix Rohatyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-rohatyn/) > [If you're not willing to risk, there are no rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-caruso/if-you-re-not-willing-to-risk-there-are-no-rewards/) [David Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-caruso/) > [I'm a capitalist. I believe in the proper working of the free market. That's why I found the scandals of 2008, the banks, Libor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/i-m-a-capitalist-i-believe-in-the-proper-working-of-the-free-market/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [I actually am a capitalist, and I believe in shareholders. But I believe in them as a result of what I do, not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-actually-am-a-capitalist-and-i-believe-in-shareholders-but-i/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“I am an anti-capitalist because I believe we can improve on it. I believe that we can create the vision I have for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/i-am-an-anti-capitalist-because-i-believe-we-can-improve-on-it-i/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [The world only gets better because people risk something to make it better. Thanks Egyptians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-only-gets-better-because-people-risk-something-to-make-it/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You read statistics all the time like, "13 million people are at risk because of the severe drought in East Africa," but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/you-read-statistics-all-the-time-like-13-million-people-are-at-risk/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [I understand my limits. I'm not going to go out there just to fight for money and to put on a show for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-ortiz/i-understand-my-limits-i-m-not-going-to-go-out-there-just-to-fight/) [Tito Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-ortiz/) > [“Most people would rather do nothing than risk doing the wrong thing-that's something Solomon learned a long time before shutting them all out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/most-people-would-rather-do-nothing-than-risk-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [People who take risk intelligently can usually actually make a lot more progress than people who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/people-who-take-risk-intelligently-can-usually-actually-make-a-lot/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [People in low-lying countries like Bangladesh with almost 140 million people who are managing to feed themselves, whose carbon emissions can't really be calculated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/people-in-low-lying-countries-like-bangladesh-with-almost-140-million/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) ## More by Harold Ford, Jr > [I am for gay marriage. Or same-sex marriage. I don't want to say it the wrong way. I think people are sensitive to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-am-for-gay-marriage-or-same-sex-marriage-i-don-t-want-to-say-it-the/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [The bureaucracy is not great. I don't think Rick Santorum who is not one for being a big proponent of large bureaucracies would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/the-bureaucracy-is-not-great-i-don-t-think-rick-santorum-who-is-not/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [The U.S. economy and workers benefit from a strong, healthy relationship between government and business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/the-u-s-economy-and-workers-benefit-from-a-strong-healthy/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I think the country is very settled in a lot of ways, and we saw that after the Democratic Convention. I think a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-think-the-country-is-very-settled-in-a-lot-of-ways-and-we-saw-that/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I am not going to stop speaking out on behalf of policies that I think are right - regardless of ideology, party or political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-am-not-going-to-stop-speaking-out-on-behalf-of-policies-that-i/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I'm not comparing myself to Bobby Kennedy by any stretch, but he was opposed by the liberal establishment, too. Eleanor Roosevelt was the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-m-not-comparing-myself-to-bobby-kennedy-by-any-stretch-but-he-was/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [Money is in politics, it's been there. I was in politics for 10 years, I had some of the worst ads run against me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/money-is-in-politics-it-s-been-there-i-was-in-politics-for-10-years-i/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I'm in an interracial marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-m-in-an-interracial-marriage/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [Lawmakers misrepresent the facts when they call the manufacturing deduction known as Section 199 - passed by Congress in 2004 to spur domestic job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/lawmakers-misrepresent-the-facts-when-they-call-the-manufacturing/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I believe that people take risk, and there are rewards if they do well; they should lose if they don’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-believe-that-people-take-risk-and-there-are-rewards-if-they-do-well/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I love New York, I love the smell of New York... I love the subway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-love-new-york-i-love-the-smell-of-new-york-i-love-the-subway/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I was for civil unions and believed strongly that the flow of benefits and protections that would be provided in a civil union for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-was-for-civil-unions-and-believed-strongly-that-the-flow-of/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [One bipartisan policy tradition is to deny Americans the use of our own resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/one-bipartisan-policy-tradition-is-to-deny-americans-the-use-of-our/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-refuse-to-do-anything-that-would-help-republicans-win-a-senate-seat/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [If you don't meet the standards, then you don't qualify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/if-you-don-t-meet-the-standards-then-you-don-t-qualify/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) [Explore all 33 Harold Ford, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a capitalist. 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