Quote collection
959 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"The .350 hitter expects, and also deserves, a big payoff for his performance - even if he plays for a cellar-dwelling team. And a .150 hitter should get no reward - even if he plays for a pennant winner."
"The woman that comes in, takes the wastebasket away, she's paying 15.3 or whatever it is on payroll tax alone. I mean it is - I never had it so good."
"Investment decision should be made on the basis of the most probable compounding of after-tax net worth with minimum risk."
"Although we deal with probabilities and expectations, the actual results can deviate substantially from such expectations, particularly on a short-term basis."
"Too often, executive compensation in the U.S. is ridiculously out of line with performance. That won't change, moreover, because the deck is stacked against investors when it comes to the CEO's pay."
"Paradoxically, when 'dumb' money acknowledges its limitations, it ceases to be dumb."
"Take Wrigley's Chewing Gum. I don't think the Internet is going to change how people chew gum."
"Never lie under any circumstances."
"You don't want 300 million Americans putting their money under the mattress."
"Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that is not reportable by us under standard accounting principles than to purchase $1 of earnings that is reportable."
"In the end we must have people to match our principles, not the reverse."
"I'm the luckiest guy in the world in terms of what I do for a living. No one can tell me to do things I don't believe in or things I think are stupid."
"I think confidence will come back."
"I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've ever paid in my life."
"I don't want to hold out false hopes that the - by some magic moment, that things will turn around in a couple months because they wouldn't, Charlie. I mean, and it's a big mistake to try and mislead people."
"Ben's Mr. Market allegory may seem out-of-date in today's investment world, in which most professionals and academicians talk of efficient markets, dynamic hedging and betas. Their interest in such matters is understandable, since techniques shrouded in mystery clearly have value to the purveyor of investment advice. After all, what witch doctor has ever achieved fame and fortune by simply advising 'Take two aspirins'?"
"Our goal is to find an outstanding business at a sensible price, not a mediocre business at a bargain price."
"With each investment you make, you should have the courage and the conviction to place at least ten per cent of your net worth in that stock"
"Two rules: 1. Preserve the principal 2. When in doubt, see Rule #1."
"When they get their ego involved, people do things they shouldn't do."