Warren Buffett

Investor, Oracle of Omaha

Contemporary influential 90 sayings

Sayings by Warren Buffett

I don't have a problem with guilt about money. The way I see it is that my money represents an enormous number of claim checks on society.

1988 — Interview with The New York Times
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

2002 — Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I measure success by how many people love me.

1998 — University of Florida speech
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway.

1987 — Interview with Fortune
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business.

2013 — Interview with PBS
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Predicting rain doesn't count. Building arks does.

2001 — Berkshire Hathaway annual report
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I don't look to jump over 7-foot bars: I look around for 1-foot bars that I can step over.

1996 — Interview with Fortune
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

It's only when the tide goes out that you discover who's been swimming naked.

2001 — Berkshire Hathaway annual report
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I am a better investor because I am a businessman, and a better businessman because I am an investor.

1996 — Shareholder Letter
Humorous Unverifiable

If past history was all that mattered, the richest people would be librarians.

1998 — Speech at the University of Florida
Humorous Unverifiable

Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1.

1989 — Shareholder Letter
Humorous Unverifiable

I don't look for things I can understand. I look for things I can't understand.

1999 — Interview with Larry King
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm not a tech guy. I don't use a computer. I don't use a cell phone. I don't Google.

2009 — Interview with CNBC
Humorous Unverifiable

The rich are always going to say that, you know, 'We don't get enough breaks.' And the poor are going to say, 'We don't get enough breaks.'

2011 — Interview with CNBC
Humorous Unverifiable

I don't get much fun out of good food. I don't get much fun out of an expensive car. I don't get much fun out of anything material.

2011 — Interview with CNBC
Humorous Unverifiable

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

Unknown — Attributed to him, popular quote
Humorous Confirmed

If you're in the luckiest 1% of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%.

2010 — Interview with Charlie Rose
Humorous Unverifiable

I bought my first stock when I was 11. I felt I had wasted a decade.

Unknown — Attributed to him in various publications
Humorous Unverifiable

We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.

1986 — Shareholder Letter
Humorous Unverifiable

I've never met a rich person who was unhappy.

Unknown — This is a misattribution or misremembered quote. Buffett has often said the opposite or that money d…
Humorous Unverifiable