Favorite Warren Buffett Quotes!

1. “The first rule of an investment is don’t lose.”  — Warren Buffett, Interview (1985)

Our Tip: You’ll never go broke following Buffett’s Golden Rule!

2. “The second rule of an investment is don’t forget the first rule, and that’s all the rules there are. I mean if you buy things for far below what they’re worth, and you buy a group of them, you basically don’t lose money.” — Warren Buffett, Interview (1985)

Our Tip: Don’t day trade.   Buy quality stocks at the right price, and hold them!

3. “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.” — Warren Buffett, Chairman’s Letter (1989)

Our Tip: Do your research and identify wonderful companies.

4. “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett as quoted in Corporate Survival: The Critical Importance of Sustainability Risk Management (2005) by Dan Robert Anderson, p. 138

Our Tip: Think before you act. Your decisions have consequences, so make sure you’re acting with integrity.

5. “In a bull market, one must avoid the error of the preening duck that quacks boastfully after a torrential rainstorm, thinking that its paddling skills have caused it to rise in the world. A right-thinking duck would instead compare its position after the downpour to that of the other ducks on the pond.” — Warren Buffett, Chairman’s Letter (1997).

Our Tip: A rising tide lifts all boats. A key aspect of making an investment decision is to review its historical performance,and strategic positioning, relative to its peers. 

6. “Intrinsic value can be defined simply: It is the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life. The calculation of intrinsic value, though, is not so simple. As our definition suggests, intrinsic value is an estimate rather than a precise figure, and it is additionally an estimate that must be changed if interest rates move or forecasts of future cash flows are revised.” — Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: An Owner’s Manual (1999).

Our Tip: Understanding Intrinsic Value is essential to make sound investment decision.  Visit our Stocks Page to see screen stocks and sort by Intrinsic Value estimates!

7. “A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” — Warren Buffett, The New York Times Op-Ed (2008)

Our Tip: Don’t be afraid to be a contrarian, and go against the grain.

8. “The trick in investing is just to sit there and watch pitch after pitch go by and wait for the one right in your sweet spot. And if people are yelling, ‘Swing, you bum!,’ ignore them.” — Warren Buffett, Netflix Documentary (Becoming Warren Buffett)(2017)

Our Tip: Wait for the right opportunity.

9. “You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many.  You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence.” — Warren Buffett, Chairman’s Letter (1996)

Our Tip: Invest in areas where you have knowledge and expertise.

10. “But ultimately, there’s one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself.” — Warren Buffet, Forbes Essay (2017)

Our Tip: You are your own best asset.