Jacob Lew Quotes

Powerful Jacob Lew for Daily Growth

About Jacob Lew

Jacob Lawrence (September 7, 1917 – June 9, 2000) was an influential African-American painter and storyteller whose work focused on depicting historical events and social issues of the African American experience. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Lawrence moved to Harlem, New York at a young age. His mother, who valued art and literature, exposed him to a rich cultural environment that would significantly impact his artistic development. He attended the Harlem Community Art Center, where he received formal training in art. Lawrence is best known for his "Migration Series," a sixty-panel narrative painting series that chronicles the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to urban North between 1915 and 1970. Each panel tells a story, with images and text, creating a powerful visual narrative. Inspired by the works of Charles and Emma Bellows, Lawrence developed his own unique style characterized by bold shapes, simplified figures, and a focus on storytelling. His work was heavily influenced by the Harlem Renaissance movement and the African American oral tradition of storytelling. Lawrence's art transcends racial boundaries and continues to resonate today. His works are held in numerous museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Despite his global recognition, Lawrence remained humble, stating, "I paint stories because I like to tell them." In 2007, a commemorative postage stamp was issued by the United States Postal Service in honor of Jacob Lawrence, recognizing his significant contributions to American art and culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The penny I saved was worth more than a dollar I earned."

This quote by Jacob Lew suggests that saving money (a penny) has a greater value or impact compared to earning an equivalent amount of money (a dollar). It implies that careful financial management, including savings, can result in long-term benefits that may surpass the immediate gains from earnings. In essence, it highlights the power and importance of thriftiness over instant gratification.


"There is no free lunch."

The quote "There is no free lunch" by Jacob Lew emphasizes that everything comes with a cost, be it resources, time, effort, or sacrifices. It suggests that nothing of value can be gained without expending something else in return. This principle applies not just financially but also in relationships, personal development, and other aspects of life where we seek to grow and achieve. The implication is that we should always consider the costs when making decisions and be mindful of our resources.


"If it's not on the balance sheet, it doesn't exist."

The quote by Jacob Lew suggests that if an asset or liability isn't included in a financial statement (i.e., the balance sheet), it is considered non-existent for the purpose of accounting and financial analysis. This emphasizes the importance of thorough, accurate, and complete record keeping, as anything omitted could significantly impact decision making regarding a company's finances and future investments. In essence, what can't be seen or quantified on a balance sheet does not have tangible value in the context of financial management.


"You have to be willing to innovate and be open to change, or you won't make it in the long run."

This quote underscores the importance of adaptability and innovation in sustaining success over time. The message is that in an ever-evolving world, one must embrace change and continuously innovate to remain competitive and relevant. Stagnation or resistance to change can lead to failure in the long run. It serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations, and societies to stay agile, think creatively, and proactively adapt to new trends, technologies, and market dynamics.


"When the government borrows money, it's just like when a family borrows money: You have to pay it back with interest."

This quote by Jacob Lew suggests that governments borrowing money operates under principles similar to personal loans. Just as a family must repay a loan with added interest over time, so too does a government when it takes on debt. The implication is that the government's ability to service its debt and maintain financial stability relies upon its economic performance, fiscal policies, and overall financial management. This understanding highlights the importance of responsible budgeting for both individual families and governments.


The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.

- Jacob Lew

Values, Numbers, Expression, Collection

We cannot win the future, expand the economy and spur job creation if we are saddled with increasingly growing deficits. That is why the president's budget is a comprehensive and responsible plan that will put us on a path toward fiscal sustainability in the next few years - a down payment toward tackling our challenges in the long term.

- Jacob Lew

Next, Tackling, Increasingly, Expand

I think that for the next short period of time, our No. 1 priority is Congress needs to do its work and extend the payroll tax cut.

- Jacob Lew

Think, Next, Needs, Extend

In the budget, the president will call for a five-year freeze on discretionary spending other than for national security. This will reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade and bring this category of spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was president.

- Jacob Lew

Next, Other, Discretionary, National Security

I've never seen a constructive Social Security debate that started with one side digging in, in one place and another side digging into another.

- Jacob Lew

Social, Another, Side, Digging

I can't speak to the differences within the Catholic Church.

- Jacob Lew

Church, Differences, Within, Catholic Church

Businesses make decisions based on what they are seeing in their order books.

- Jacob Lew

Seeing, Books, Based, Businesses

We obviously would like to get unemployment as low as we possibly can.

- Jacob Lew

Like, Low, Would, Possibly

The transition from tyranny to democracy is very hard. The Syrian people have to handle this in a way that works in Syria. And the brutality of the Assad regime is unacceptable.

- Jacob Lew

Very, Works, Unacceptable, Transition

Every president since George Washington has taken executive privilege seriously. Every Republican president has.

- Jacob Lew

Republican, Taken, Executive, None

Raising the debt limit on some levels is a ministerial act. It doesn't involve any new spending.

- Jacob Lew

New, Some, Raising, Levels

Social Security is something that we need to deal with, because people who are working today, who will retire in the future, people who are retired today, they have a right - and it's part of the compact that they can depend on their benefits. We should fix the long-term funding problem of Social Security because that's the right thing to do.

- Jacob Lew

Deal, Benefits, Compact, Retire

I think it's very important not to confuse the importance of dealing with Social Security in the long term with these short-term deficit reduction challenges. They're different issues.

- Jacob Lew

Think, I Think, Very, Long Term

There are lots of ways to work together.

- Jacob Lew

Work, Lots, Ways, Work Together

If you don't define the problem you'll never reach a painful solution.

- Jacob Lew

Problem, Solution, Never, Painful

There is a very serious fiscal-policy question of, 'Are we running our overall fiscal policy such that we as a government can pay our bills?'

- Jacob Lew

Question, Pay, Very, Bills

It's going to be true that anything that reduces the federal deficit will have somebody unhappy.

- Jacob Lew

Unhappy, Will, Going, Deficit

The reason to deal with Social Security is that it is a system where we have a tradition and history of making sure it is solidly funded for 75 years. At the moment, we look out and we see it is solidly funded until 2037.

- Jacob Lew

Reason, Deal, Making, Social Security

It is time for the general fund to pay the Social Security fund back.

- Jacob Lew

Security, General, Fund, Social Security

Historically, the responsibility for voting on the debt limit has gone to the party in the majority.

- Jacob Lew

Responsibility, Limit, Historically

I think there is a shared sense of urgency in Washington on fiscal issues.

- Jacob Lew

Think, I Think, Shared, Urgency

Europe is trying to get its fiscal house in order.

- Jacob Lew

Trying, Europe, Get, Fiscal

I think the thing that the American people want is for the divisive debate on health care to stop.

- Jacob Lew

Think, I Think, Divisive, Health Care

Taxpayers can go online and find out more about the way their government works than ever before.

- Jacob Lew

More, Before, Works, Taxpayers

We have to reduce the burden placed on our economy by years of deficits and debt.

- Jacob Lew

Reduce, Placed, Deficits, Debt

If you look at the cost of providing health insurance, it actually doesn't cost more to provide a plan with contraceptive coverage than it does without.

- Jacob Lew

Insurance, Cost, Providing, Coverage

If you have a student who graduates from college and they don't have a job, they are now able to stay on their family health plan.

- Jacob Lew

Health, College, Student, Graduates

Most Americans want health insurance.

- Jacob Lew

Insurance, Want, Most, Health Insurance

There's a lot of trust being built up. I think we have a lot of work ahead of us.

- Jacob Lew

Trust, Think, Lot, Ahead

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.