Can The Fed Be Funny? Ben Bernanke’s Humorous, Insightful Tips For Recent Grads

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke may have become associated with dour-faced testimonies before Congressional hearings, but, in recent days, saysCNN, Bernanke has been delivering a light and charming series of life tips to grads at Princeton and Simon’s Rock.

Speaking to students, Bernanke said life is full of the unexpected, noting, “Don’t be afraid to let the drama play out.” Sometimes difficult times and situations can lead to unforeseen benefits and new opportunities.

Ben Bernanke then went on to explain that we need to find happiness and fulfillment through personal growth. He says you should challenge yourself to become a better, more generous person. “If you are not happy with yourself, even the loftiest achievements won’t bring you much satisfaction,” Bernanke explained.

The Federal Reserve Chairman then added that those who are luckiest and most fortunate have the greatest responsibility to society. Don’t rest on good fortune; use it to help others.

With success, some people feel entitled to look down on others. To those people, Bernanke explains that some of the hardest working people in our nation did not have opportunities for higher education. “They’re more fun to have a beer with, too.”

At one point Bernanke even paraphrased Lily Tomlin, telling students:

“I try to be cynical, but I just can’t keep up.” Don’t let difficult situations and hard circumstances hold you back from success, just do your best.

Here are five more tips from Ben Bernanke:

1. Don’t overestimate economics, “a highly sophisticated field of thought that is superb at explaining to policymakers precisely why the choices they made in the past were wrong. About the future, not so much.”
2. Money is just money. “I’m not going to tell you that money doesn’t matter, because you wouldn’t believe me anyway.” But, he says to “remember that money is a means, not an end.”
3. “Nobody likes to fail but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn’t dirty, you haven’t been in the game.”
4. Be smart about how you choose a life partner: “Remember that physical beauty is evolution’s way of assuring us that the other person doesn’t have too many intestinal parasites.”
5. Call your mom and dad. “Remember who paid your tuition.”

Ben Bernanke‘s full speech can be found here.

[Image via Albert H. Teich / Shutterstock.com]