John Kluge Quotes

Powerful John Kluge for Daily Growth

About John Kluge

John Kluge (September 10, 1924 – July 4, 2019) was an American entrepreneur, media mogul, and philanthropist best known for his groundbreaking work in the broadcasting industry. Born in Weissenborn, Germany, to a Jewish family who later emigrated to the United States, Kluge's early years were marked by hardship due to the Great Depression. However, this struggle instilled in him a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit that would later propel him to great success. Kluge served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he was injured during the Battle of the Bulge. After recovering, he attended the University of Michigan, studying electrical engineering but dropping out before graduating. His first significant business endeavor was Kluge Industries, a packaging and shipping supplies company, which he sold in 1968 for $28 million. In the same year, Kluge entered the media world by purchasing the ailing Metromedia television stations, turning them into profitable entities through innovative programming and advertising strategies. He later expanded his empire to include cable networks such as MTV, Nickelodeon, CNBC, and the MSNBC cable news channel. Kluge's influence extended beyond business, as he was a generous philanthropist. He donated millions to various causes, including education, healthcare, and arts. In 2007, Kluge was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President George W. Bush for his significant contributions to American culture. Throughout his life, John Kluge demonstrated an extraordinary ability to identify trends and capitalize on opportunities, making him one of the most influential figures in American media history. His legacy continues to inspire entrepreneurs and innovators around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success is created, not found."

The quote by John Kluge suggests that success does not merely happen by chance or stumbling upon it; instead, it's something one has to create through hard work, determination, and strategic efforts. It implies that being successful requires intentional actions, planning, and making the most out of opportunities, rather than waiting for luck or fate. In essence, the quote encourages individuals to be proactive in their pursuit of success and understand that it is within their power to create their own achievements.


"The successful man has little time for questions, only time for answers."

This quote emphasizes that a successful individual is typically focused on executing solutions rather than questioning or debating ideas extensively. Success often demands decisive action and a proactive mindset. By prioritizing the pursuit of answers over speculating with questions, one can make faster progress in their endeavors.


"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

The quote emphasizes that our character, identity, and abilities are shaped by consistent actions over time rather than by isolated moments of greatness. In other words, excellence isn't achieved through a single extraordinary act, but it results from repeatedly performing tasks with skill and proficiency, thereby forming good habits. Thus, anyone can cultivate excellence in their lives by developing positive and effective routines.


"The secret of life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for your whole life."

This quote suggests that finding a purpose or a meaningful pursuit that captures one's passion and dedication can lead to a fulfilling and satisfied life. The task or endeavor in question should be something that engages the individual fully, requiring their utmost effort and focus for the entirety of their lifetime. Essentially, the message is about finding one's calling or purpose and devoting oneself to it with unwavering commitment.


"Money can't create friends - only money can buy you a new friend every day."

This quote by John Kluge emphasizes that money cannot create genuine, lasting relationships or friendships. Money can certainly offer opportunities to meet people (new friends each day), but it does not foster emotional connections or trust – the essential elements of true friendship. In other words, you can't buy friendship with money; it has to be earned through shared experiences, mutual respect, understanding, and genuine care.


The last thing you want to do, unless it's a very unusual situation, is to invest money.

- John Kluge

Money, Last, Very, Unusual

Assets are cold.

- John Kluge

Cold, Assets

My philosophy all my life has been the pursuit of excellence.

- John Kluge

Excellence, My Life, Been, All My Life

You should have a fund of knowledge of something and out of that you make up you mind.

- John Kluge

Mind, Should, Up, Fund

Money is not a fund of knowledge.

- John Kluge

Knowledge, Money, Fund

Young entrepreneurs should spend an awful lot of time thinking about what they want to go into.

- John Kluge

Young, Want, Awful Lot, Entrepreneurs

Go into something because you really like it, and then do it with a drive and enthusiasm so that it isn't work.

- John Kluge

Work, Enthusiasm, Like, Drive

So we have a commitment to the business and to its people.

- John Kluge

Business, People, Commitment

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