Matthew Lesko Quotes

Powerful Matthew Lesko for Daily Growth

About Matthew Lesko

Matthew Lesko (born April 14, 1957) is an American author, humorist, and creator of the "Want Money? Get Grant$" book series. Known for his distinctive hairdo and signature pose, Lesko has become a recognizable figure in popular culture. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Lesko developed an early interest in writing and humor, influenced by his father who was a writer and comedian. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English, he began his career as a freelance writer, contributing to various publications. Lesko's breakthrough came in 1985 when he published "Want Money? Get Grant$," a guidebook that reveals little-known government grant programs. The book, now in its 30th edition, has sold over 6 million copies and spawned numerous spin-offs, making Lesko a household name. Known for his unique style of presentation, Lesko's books feature countless examples of real government grant solicitations with his distinctive exclamation, "Here's one I prepared earlier!" He has also appeared on numerous TV shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. In addition to his publishing work, Lesko is a sought-after public speaker, often addressing audiences about creativity, humor, and the power of information. His work continues to inspire people to seek out grant opportunities and navigate the world of government funding. Today, Matthew Lesko remains an influential figure in the realm of self-help literature and American humor, continuing to publish books and speak at events across the country. His unique approach to information dissemination and his relentless pursuit of knowledge have left a lasting impact on generations of readers.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Form is temporary, class is permanent."

Matthew Lesko's quote "Form is temporary, class is permanent" highlights the idea that an individual's current circumstances or situation (form) may change over time, but their inherent qualities, skills, and social status (class) remain more enduring. In other words, while our external conditions can fluctuate, the underlying characteristics that define us as individuals or groups are persistent and form a more reliable basis for assessing potential success or achievement. This quote encourages perseverance and self-improvement, suggesting that even if one faces setbacks or hardships (temporary forms), the focus should be on developing and refining one's abilities (permanent class) to overcome obstacles and reach long-term goals.


"Knowledge is power, but the right knowledge applied at the right time is more powerful."

This quote emphasizes that having knowledge alone is not enough; its true power lies in its application at the appropriate moment. The "right" knowledge refers to the specific understanding required to solve a problem, make an informed decision, or achieve success in a given situation. Therefore, knowledge becomes more powerful when it is applied skillfully and timely, empowering us to navigate our world effectively.


"If you can't find the answer in a book, write it!"

This quote encourages self-reliance, creativity, and knowledge acquisition. It suggests that if one cannot find an answer to their question within existing resources (books), they should take it upon themselves to generate new knowledge or insights by writing about the subject, thereby contributing to the collective body of knowledge. Essentially, it's a call for curiosity, innovation, and the pursuit of learning beyond what has already been documented.


"Government money is like manna from heaven – if you don't grab it, someone else will!"

This quote by Matthew Lesko underscores the competitive nature of acquiring government funding or resources. It suggests that opportunities for financial aid or other benefits offered by the government are limited and highly sought after, much like manna from heaven which was scarce and valued in Biblical times. If one does not seize these opportunities promptly, they may be taken by others who are also eager to secure them. The message is a call to action, encouraging individuals or organizations to be proactive and persistent when pursuing government resources to gain an advantage over competitors.


"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

This quote emphasizes that success is not a mysterious or hidden accomplishment, but rather a product of three key elements: extensive preparation, diligent effort, and the ability to learn from one's mistakes. In other words, anyone who is willing to put in the time, energy, and mindset to acquire knowledge, work hard, and adapt through trial and error can achieve success. The notion that secrets exist to success oversimplifies the process, suggesting it can be easily obtained without effort or learning, which is not accurate. Instead, the road to success demands perseverance, humility, and a commitment to growth.


One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard to get and just aren't available for regular people like you and I.

- Matthew Lesko

Protection, Out, Available, Claims

We all have to stand by our life's work as the true test of what we have done for the world.

- Matthew Lesko

Work, World, Test, True Test

A degree of lying - you know, white lies - seems to be inherent in all languages and all forms of communication.

- Matthew Lesko

White, Degree, Languages, White Lies

I've been bragging for over 25 years that my first New York Times bestseller was a book I copied from the U.S. Government Printing Office!

- Matthew Lesko

New, Over, Been, Bestseller

There are thousands of grant programs and every program has different requirements and deadlines.

- Matthew Lesko

Requirements, Programs, Deadlines

There are many programs specifically aimed at helping people in poverty start a business.

- Matthew Lesko

Business, Helping People, Specifically

No salesman can ever guarantee you a grant from any government or non-profit organization.

- Matthew Lesko

Government, Guarantee, Ever, Grant

Many of you might already recognize me as the guy in the question-mark suits appearing in the late night TV commercials and on the cover of educational books and CDs.

- Matthew Lesko

Might, TV, Educational, CDs

Some of the best health care services are free or cost very little and are even available to millionaires but hardly anyone knows they exist.

- Matthew Lesko

Some, Cost, Very, Hardly

So if there is a government grant offered for anything, like starting a business or going to school, they cannot discriminate because of your age.

- Matthew Lesko

Business, Like, Going, Discriminate

An estimated 2 million American women will be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer this decade and screening could prevent up to 30% of these deaths for women over 40.

- Matthew Lesko

Decade, Over, Screening, Diagnosed

Many scammers are only using personal checks for payment because they can take the money and run.

- Matthew Lesko

Checks, Take, Using, Payment

I can't help thinking if she - the director of a government agency - is this ignorant about what funding is available and where the money comes from - how often lower-level bureaucrats must give wrong answers when people are looking for help to start a business.

- Matthew Lesko

Answers, Available, About, Bureaucrats

Anyone can make anyone else look bad if they really want to pull things apart enough.

- Matthew Lesko

Enough, Want, Bad, Apart

Most every dental school has discount dental services.

- Matthew Lesko

School, Most, Dental, Discount

I've been giving free money seminars for the troops at Walter Reed Hospital and one of the Iraqi War Vets realized that the military wouldn't pay for the dental work he needed.

- Matthew Lesko

Work, Been, Needed, Dental

What is also strange to me is that public libraries have always been in the forefront of opposing censorship.

- Matthew Lesko

Always, Been, Opposing, Forefront

Government workers often get a bad rap, but it's rare for them to receive much appreciation when government works.

- Matthew Lesko

Rap, Receive, Works, Bad Rap

Not offering this kind of guarantee means that they do not believe in their product enough, and they do not care about if a salesman is over promising or over selling their product.

- Matthew Lesko

Product, Over, Means, Salesman

There are few in America that really know how to take advantage of the current health care system.

- Matthew Lesko

Health, Advantage, Really, Care

Teachers can go on cruises with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and anyone can spend the summer as a volunteer in a National Parks and even earn money doing it.

- Matthew Lesko

Doing, Go, Administration, Volunteer

There are thousands and thousands of free programs available for people of any income level.

- Matthew Lesko

Income, Level, Available, Programs

What I do in my book is let people know about these programs.

- Matthew Lesko

Book, Know, About, Programs

The way we've been neglecting to support our libraries throughout the country is a shame.

- Matthew Lesko

Shame, Country, Been, Neglecting

Good government only happens when the people working in it do their jobs, and do them well.

- Matthew Lesko

Government, Only, Jobs, Happens

Liberals like using government to solve problems in OUR country and conservatives are using our government to solve problems in OTHER countries.

- Matthew Lesko

Country, Other, Using, Solve

A big part of finding the right resources is knowing what to look for and what to avoid.

- Matthew Lesko

Big, Knowing, Big Part, Avoid

I've done a dozen or two dozen infomercials.

- Matthew Lesko

Done, Two, Dozen

My business has doubled in ways I couldn't have imagined.

- Matthew Lesko

Business, Ways, Imagined

I've been talking about the centrality of libraries in our information society for a while now.

- Matthew Lesko

Society, Now, Been, Libraries

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