--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For almost seventy years the life…" description: "\"For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has been a smug sacred cow feeding the public a steady line of sacred bull.\" — Ralph Nader" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/ralph-nader-1783_feeding_for-almost-seventy-years-the-life-insura_162888.png" --- # For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has… ![“For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has been a smug sacred cow feeding the public a steady line of sacred bull.” quote by Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/ralph-nader-1783_feeding_for-almost-seventy-years-the-life-insura_162888.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/ralph-nader-1783_feeding_for-almost-seventy-years-the-life-insura_162888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/ralph-nader-1783_feeding_for-almost-seventy-years-the-life-insura_162888.png) > “For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has been a smug sacred cow feeding the public a steady line of sacred bull.” [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The insurance sector is often treated as untouchable, yet it may perpetuate outdated practices that benefit itself more than consumers. **In simple terms:** Insurance is seen as sacred but may be self‑serving. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate industry claims and seek reform. Themes industry critique consumer rights policy reform Mood skeptical urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - policy analysis - consumer advocacy - financial planning - legislative hearings - media reporting Key Concepts regulation public accountability market competition Questions to Reflect On - What evidence reveals the industry's hidden biases? - How can consumers demand greater transparency? A Different Perspective Complex regulations can make reform difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) ## Related quotes > [The life insurance industry is filled with good people who believe in their work and their companies, but who may never have challenged the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-tobias/the-life-insurance-industry-is-filled-with-good-people-who-believe-in/) [Andrew Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-tobias/) > [We have taken on the health insurance industry, we have taken on the drug companies, instituting programs to lower the cost of prescription drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/we-have-taken-on-the-health-insurance-industry-we-have-taken-on-the/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [It's off the charts - and if you don't believe the scientists, ask the insurance industry, the people we pay to analyze risk in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/it-s-off-the-charts-and-if-you-don-t-believe-the-scientists-ask-the/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [The insurance industry communicates through codes and check-off boxes. If there's no check-off box for you, you don't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-anderson/the-insurance-industry-communicates-through-codes-and-check-off-boxes/) [Jack Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-anderson/) > [We are the only nation where paper is still the mainstay in the private insurance industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-reinhardt/we-are-the-only-nation-where-paper-is-still-the-mainstay-in-the/) [Uwe Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-reinhardt/) > [Who's paying the million bucks? The insurance company. We've been trying for years to get the insurance industry to say to the gun industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-barnes/who-s-paying-the-million-bucks-the-insurance-company-we-ve-been/) [Michael D. Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-barnes/) > [Today we have a health insurance industry where the first and foremost goal is to maximize profits for shareholders and CEOs, not to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/today-we-have-a-health-insurance-industry-where-the-first-and/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [I basically believe the medical insurance industry should be nonprofit, not profit-making. There is no way a health reform plan will work when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/i-basically-believe-the-medical-insurance-industry-should-be/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [There will be no insurance industry left in three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/there-will-be-no-insurance-industry-left-in-three-years/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The health insurance industry does not like to pay out claims, because they don't make money. The only way they can make a profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/the-health-insurance-industry-does-not-like-to-pay-out-claims-because/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Like other magicians, Obama has chosen his distractions well. The insurance industry is currently his favorite distraction as scapegoats, after he has tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/like-other-magicians-obama-has-chosen-his-distractions-well-the/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Irreverence is our only sacred cow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krassner/irreverence-is-our-only-sacred-cow/) [Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krassner/) > [Everyone now has a sacred cow in the tax code. For my money, the most sacred thing of all is our country and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/everyone-now-has-a-sacred-cow-in-the-tax-code-for-my-money-the-most/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [Because of these new car models there is suddenly on the streets of Delhi a new intolerance by the motorists for both the cows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/because-of-these-new-car-models-there-is-suddenly-on-the-streets-of/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [“My mind is a sacred cow / bleeding in the ellipsis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomaz-salamun/my-mind-is-a-sacred-cow-bleeding-in-the-ellipsis/) Tomaz Salamun ## More by Ralph Nader > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Nuclear power must be dealt with irrationally. . . . Nuclear plants are carcinogens. Let's get that story out. . . . Their lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/nuclear-power-must-be-dealt-with-irrationally-nuclear-plants-are/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In 2000 the majority of people wanted me and Buchanan on the debates in two thousand. And me on the debates in 2004. have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2000-the-majority-of-people-wanted-me-and-buchanan-on-the-debates/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [What we need to recognize, less than 1 percent of the people organized around issues that are already supported by conservatives and liberals, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/what-we-need-to-recognize-less-than-1-percent-of-the-people-organized/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [We live in a two-party tyranny that doesn't believe in competition, can enforce it with penalties and obstructions, and they're getting closer and closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/we-live-in-a-two-party-tyranny-that-doesn-t-believe-in-competition/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [George W. Bush is very vulnerable but not if you campaign the way the major candidates - except for Dean and Kucinich - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/george-w-bush-is-very-vulnerable-but-not-if-you-campaign-the-way-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In the meantime the big corporations are fleeing America for tax havens and places like Ireland, Luxembourg and the Grand Cayman Islands; the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-the-meantime-the-big-corporations-are-fleeing-america-for-tax/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Full Medicare-for-all, free choice of doctor and hospital: that comes in sixty to seventy percent without even further explanation. 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You've got to show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/people-have-got-to-show-up-showing-up-at-meetings-rallies-marches/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [It is fascinating to watch legislators turn away from their usual corporate grips when they hear the growing thunder of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-fascinating-to-watch-legislators-turn-away-from-their-usual/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In 2004 Professor Stephen Farnsworth, when I report saying that I got about five minutes on all the networks after Labor Day to election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2004-professor-stephen-farnsworth-when-i-report-saying-that-i-got/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Young wives are the leading asset of corporate power. They want the suburbs, a house, a settled life, and respectability. They want society to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/young-wives-are-the-leading-asset-of-corporate-power-they-want-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Moral courage is the highest expression of humanity ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/moral-courage-is-the-highest-expression-of-humanity/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Ronald Reagan is the most ignorant president since Warren Harding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/ronald-reagan-is-the-most-ignorant-president-since-warren-harding/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) [Explore all 208 Ralph Nader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## More Feeding quotes > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One cat just leads to another. 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You have to feed it with much material, much experience, many people, many places, many loves, many creations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-is-a-devouring-monster-you-have-to-feed-it-with-much/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Jesus Christ would have been considered just another long-haired hippie freak if he hadn't been crucified. 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