Investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike.
Meaning
Graham argued in the 1973 edition of The Intelligent Investor that buying a share should be treated like buying part of a business: study what it earns, owes and is worth. Apply it by reading a company's basic financials and judging the price before buying, instead of following tips.
Source: The Intelligent Investor, 4th revised edition (1973)
About the author
Benjamin Graham (1894-1976) was a British-born American economist and investor, widely known as the father of value investing. He wrote The Intelligent Investor and Security Analysis, and taught Warren Buffett.
Related quotes
-
“Great opportunities often arise when others are focused on short-term uncertainty.”
Meaning: Opportunities come in uncertainty. -
“Patience is one of the most valuable assets an investor can have.”
Meaning: Patience leads to better returns. -
“Mistakes in investing are inevitable, but learning from them is what separates success from failure.”
Meaning: Learning from mistakes is important. -
“Risk is not something to avoid entirely, but something to understand and manage effectively.”
Meaning: Risk management is key. -
“Investing is not about predicting the future perfectly, but about understanding risk and making informed decisions.”
Meaning: Risk understanding is key. -
“Listening to customers is one of the most valuable tools for building a strong brand.”
Meaning: Customers matter. -
“Build something that people are willing to pay for.”
Meaning: Value creation drives business success. -
“The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore; it will be the fast beating the slow.”
Meaning: Speed and agility matter more than size. -
“If you don’t understand your numbers, you don’t understand your business.”
Meaning: Financial awareness is critical.