Warren Buffett? Anonymous? Apocryphal? Question for Quote Investigator: Famous U.S. investor Warren Buffett once described the three traits he looked for in new employees. A worker should have integrity, intelligence, and energy. Apparently, Buffett believed that the first trait was crucial because its absence would cause the other two traits to kill a business. Would …
Category Archives: Warren Buffett
Don’t Cut Your Flowers and Water Your Weeds
Warren Buffett? Peter Lynch? Allan R. Stuart? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: When a stock in your portfolio goes up it is tempting to sell it and lock in profits. Also, when a stock is languishing it is natural to hold on to it with the hope that someday it will ascend. However, a vivid …
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Bitcoin: It’s Probably Rat Poison Squared
Warren Buffett? Charlie Munger? Liz Claman? Becky Quick? Mark Cuban? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The value of bitcoin has fluctuated dramatically. Extreme language has been used to either praise or vilify this prominent digital currency. The superinvestors Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have made harsh pronouncements. Apparently, Munger said bitcoin was rat poison, and Buffett …
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Quote Origin: Blessed Are Those Who Plant Trees Under Whose Shade They Will Never Sit
Greek Proverb? Indian Proverb? Marcus Tullius Cicero? Joycelyn Elders? Warren Buffett? Hyacinthe Loyson? M. Trottier? Question for Quote Investigator: A popular adage praises people whose selfless actions are designed to benefit future generations. Here are two versions: Would you please explore the provenance of this saying? Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest match known to …
In the Short-Run, the Market Is a Voting Machine, But in the Long-Run, the Market Is a Weighing Machine
Benjamin Graham? Warren Buffett? Ronald A. McEachern? Ben Bidwell? John C. Bogle? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: A brilliant metaphorical framework for understanding the stock market can be summarized with the following cogent remark: In the short-run, the stock market is a voting machine. Yet, in the long-run, it is a weighing machine. Each purchase and …
You Will Continue To Suffer If You Have an Emotional Reaction To Everything
Warren Buffett? Bruce Lee? Cindy Flores? Sylvester McNutt III? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: A paragraph of advice about maintaining equanimity is popular on social media. Here is the first sentence: You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. These words have been attributed to the …
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Read 500 Pages Like This Every Day. That’s How Knowledge Works. It Builds Up, Like Compound Interest
Warren Buffett? Todd Combs? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: Warren Buffett is one of the wealthiest individuals in the history of the world. His lengthy record of successful investing is remarkable. Apparently, he was once asked for guidance and offered this suggestion: Read five-hundred pages every day. I haven’t been able to find a citation. Would …
Risk Comes from Not Knowing What You’re Doing
Warren Buffett? Jim Rasmussen? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: The investment record of Warren Buffett has been astonishingly successful. His reputation for sagacity means that his tongue can transform a prosaic remark into an adage of wry plainspoken wisdom such as the following: Risk comes from not knowing what you’re going. I have seen low quality …
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The Chains of Habit Are Too Light To Be Felt Until They Are Too Heavy To Be Broken
Warren Buffett? Samuel Johnson? Maria Edgeworth? Bertrand Russell? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: I recall seeing a lecture by the famed investor Warren Buffett during which he cautioned his audience to avoid falling into self-destructive behavior patterns. He used this eloquent analysis: The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too …
Gold Gets Dug Out of the Ground; Then We Melt It Down, Dig Another Hole, Bury It Again
Warren Buffett? Frank Fellinger? Apocryphal? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The funniest and most perceptive comment about the precious metal gold is attributed to the super-investor Warren Buffett: Gold gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or some place. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand …