Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) was a man of great ambition, and while it was that ambition that helped him take over the West Baltimore drug trade with his partner and friend Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris), for Stringer, the game was just a market for him to capitalize on before moving on to bigger and better things. Along with his keen business acumen, Stringer always had his eyes on the big picture, and throughout his run on The Wire (which is available to stream anytime on HBO Now) he was never shy about letting that ambition be known. To celebrate those moments when you’re trying to be something more, look to these eight Stringer Bell quotes to help you zero in on that ambition.
“We didn’t think we would make it this f*cking far, but f*ck if we ain’t standing here right now with the whole world at our feet. The whole world, man, not these f*cking corners. The whole world, B.”
Throughout their relationship, Avon’s mind never moved past the game on the streets, and here in this moment, Stringer was never so desperate to get him to share his ambition and move past the drug dealing and turf wars of their past. When you’re striving to be something more, and you have to have the vision to go with it, not everyone may be inclined to share that with you.
“You have any idea what I had to do to get where I am today? When I say I’m ready, you best believe it.”
When you’ve got Stringer’s ambition, you leave very little room for doubt, and when someone calls your ability into question, there’s no better way to let them know they’re wrong.
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“If the man comin’, make ready for the man.”
Really, this is just good all-around advice. If you’re not ready for the man, you run the risk of losing big. A lesson Stringer Bell learned the hard way.
“You gotta be fierce, I know that, but more than that, you gotta show some flex, give and take on both sides.”
Showing the kind of wisdom that it takes to really make something of yourself, as Stringer’s empire grows, so too does his understanding of the importance of compromise. If you only focus on the small, petty things, then you’ll never be able to set your sights on the big picture.
“Everybody makin’ money sharing the real estate.”
When Stringer worked out a truce between East & West Baltimore, it wasn’t for the sake of the olive branch, but rather just another move in his long journey to the top. In the wake of the truce, he was able to consolidate his power, increase his profit, and funnel that much more money into going legit. It’s this kind of forward thinking that is essential when you’re trying to be something more.
“Yeah, well, you know what I see? I see one hand in my pocket, well the other hand seems to have grabbed a d*ck.”
Of course, it might not be those close to you that try and hold you back. Sometimes it’s old-fashioned bureaucracy that’ll do that for you, as the process of going legit and making yourself into something usually involves an ocean of paperwork. Like Stringer, it’s important to try and remain vigilant and jump through hoops when dealing with something like this.
Unlike Stringer, try not to hand off a quarter-million dollars cash to a corrupt state senator in the lobby of a government building.
“There’s games beyond the f*cking game.”
The heart of Stringer’s ambition lays here in this quote. From taking community college classes to running the copy shop to his condominium pipe dream, Stringer’s ambition was second to none, especially considering where he came from. And even though he ultimately fell short (side lesson: don’t double-cross one hitman by lying to him about another hitman) and stands out as a story that is more tragic (for that missed dream) than inspirational, this quote has value beyond that scene if you’re out there trying to make more of yourself. There’s always another game to consider. Always another move you need to figure.
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