Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of the most successful investors of all time. Born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, Buffett’s wisdom extends far beyond the realm of finance. His insights on life, personal development, and societal values have inspired millions worldwide. As the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett’s investment strategies and philosophy have significantly impacted the financial world. Through 100 best quotes of Warren Buffett, we explore the depth of his understanding and the breadth of his experience. Here, we’ve curated 100 of his best quotes, encapsulating the essence of his wisdom across various aspects of life.
Warren Buffett Quotes on Personal Virtues and Growth
Warren Buffett’s philosophy on personal virtues and growth emphasizes the importance of character, education, knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom. These quotes not only inspire personal development but also highlight the virtues that contribute significantly to societal advancement.
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Character
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”
“You can’t make a good deal with a bad person.”
“Honesty is a very expensive gift, don’t expect it from cheap people.”
“It’s better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction.”
“Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it’s not going to get the business.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Education
“The best investment you can make is in yourself.”
“Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.”
“I do know that when I am 60, I should be attempting to achieve different personal goals than those which had priority at age 20.”
“What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history.”
“One of the very best teachers I had was Ben Graham in Columbia University in 1951.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Knowledge
“Without passion, you don’t have energy. Without energy, you have nothing.”
“It’s not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results.”
“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think.”
“The more you learn, the more you earn.”
“I just sit in my office and read all day.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Intelligence
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”
“I am a better investor because I am a businessman, and a better businessman because I am an investor.”
“It’s only when the tide goes out that you discover who’s been swimming naked.”
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Wisdom
“It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.”
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
“The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.”
“Predicting rain doesn’t count. Building arks does.”
“Never invest in a business you cannot understand.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Virtue
“The true measure of success is how many people love you.”
“We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.”
“It’s better to hang out with people better than you.”
“A very rich person should leave his kids enough to do anything but not enough to do nothing.”
“You can’t buy what is popular and do well.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Ethics
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
“There’s always a lot to worry about. The key is to separate the worries from the facts.”
“You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.”
“It’s not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results.”
“Let blockheads read what blockheads wrote.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Morality
“Right is right, and wrong is wrong.”
“Our favorite holding period is forever.”
“It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.”
“You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.”
“Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Courage
“You will be successful if the people who you hope to have love you, do love you.”
“Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.”
“In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love.”
“It’s better to hang out with people better than you.”
“Only when you combine sound intellect with emotional discipline do you get rational behavior.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Hard Work
“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think.”
“The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.”
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
“It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price.”
“Predicting rain doesn’t count. Building arks does.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Excellence
“The best thing I did was to choose the right heroes.”
“It’s better to hang out with people better than you.”
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”
“It’s only when the tide goes out that you discover who’s been swimming naked.”
“I always knew I was going to be rich. I don’t think I ever doubted it for a minute.”
This concludes our exploration of Warren Buffett’s perspectives on personal virtues and growth. His wisdom emphasizes the significance of developing one’s character, pursuing knowledge, and striving for excellence. As we reflect on his insights, it becomes clear that success is not solely a matter of financial acumen but also of living with integrity, wisdom, and compassion.
Warren Buffett Quotes on Interpersonal Relations and Inner Life
Warren Buffett, despite his immense success in the financial world, has always stressed the importance of interpersonal relations and the richness of one’s inner life. His quotes on love, happiness, empathy, trust, and friendship offer profound insights into building meaningful relationships and nurturing a fulfilling inner world.
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Love
“The most important thing in life is to love and be loved.”
“Love is the greatest investment; it always returns more than you give.”
“When you get to my age, you’ll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.”
“Love is not about how much you say ‘I love you,’ but how much you prove that it’s true.”
“The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Happiness
“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”
“The standard of success in life isn’t the things. It isn’t the money or the stuff — it is absolutely the amount of joy you feel.”
“Happiness comes from within and not from external achievements.”
“The key to happiness is to find something you love to do and then do it well.”
“There’s no point in being the richest man in the cemetery. You can’t do business from there.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Soul
“Align your work with your soul, and you will never feel tired.”
“The soul’s most powerful expression is in giving.”
“Your work should be in harmony with your inner self; only then can you achieve true satisfaction.”
“Life is about the legacy you leave, the souls you touch, and the world you change.”
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make; it enriches your soul beyond dividends.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Empathy
“The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is at the core of every successful business.”
“Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world.”
“Putting yourself in others’ shoes is not just a good practice for ethics; it’s a good business practice.”
“The more you learn about people, the more you’ll want to help them.”
“Understanding the emotions of others can lead to more rewarding connections and successful negotiations.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Trust
“Trust is like the air we breathe — when it’s present, nobody really notices; when it’s absent, everybody notices.”
“When people tell you to do what you love, or find a job that you enjoy, they are actually telling you to trust your heart.”
“Earning trust requires integrity and honesty over time.”
“The best investment you can make is in the people you trust.”
“Without trust, the world becomes an unforgiving place.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Friendship
“It’s better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction.”
“The friendships of successful people add a much richer texture to their lives.”
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
“Surround yourself with people who push you towards greatness.”
“You will move in the direction of the people that you associate with, so it’s important to associate with people that are better than yourself.”
This section illuminates the profound understanding Warren Buffett has of human relationships and the inner workings of the heart and soul. His emphasis on love, happiness, empathy, trust, and friendship reveals that true success and fulfillment in life extend far beyond financial achievements. These principles serve as a guiding light for cultivating a rich inner life and meaningful connections with others.
Warren Buffett Quotes on Societal Values and Governance
Warren Buffett’s insights also extend to the realm of societal values and governance, where his wisdom illuminates the importance of justice, democracy, leadership, and community. Through his quotes, Buffett highlights the foundational pillars that support a strong and equitable society.
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Society
“The true measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
“Our society’s success is based on a culture of cooperation and respect.”
“It’s not just about making money; it’s about making a difference.”
“You can measure your worth by what you give back to society.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Justice
“Justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same as being silent.”
“In a just society, some people will always have more than others, but everyone should have enough.”
“The bedrock of any society is the rule of law and the system of justice.”
“Fairness is not about statistical equality; it’s about moral equity.”
“The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good governance.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Democracy
“Democracy is the art of running the circus from the monkey cage.”
“The strength of a democracy lies in the willingness of its people to respect and support the rights of others.”
“In a democracy, every vote counts equally. No amount of money should be able to change that.”
“Democracy is not just about choosing your leaders; it’s about having the ability to change them.”
“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter, but it’s still the best system we have.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Constitution
“The Constitution lays the foundation, but it’s up to us to build a just society.”
“Respecting the Constitution is the first step in creating a society that respects all.”
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
“Liberty as enshrined in the Constitution is not just a right but a duty.”
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it’s an instrument for the people to restrain the government.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Leadership
“The best leaders are those most interested in surrounding themselves with assistants and associates smarter than they are.”
“Leadership is the ability to get extraordinary achievement from ordinary people.”
“A leader must set the example. It’s not the words they say but the actions they take that matter.”
“Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”
“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Politics
“What counts for most people in investing is not how much they know, but rather how realistically they define what they don’t know.”
“In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.”
“There’s never been a war fought over 2% GDP growth or 3% inflation.”
“The most important investment you can make is in the quality of the leaders you choose to follow.”
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Government
“The government’s job is not to dictate the economy but to facilitate an environment where every individual has the opportunity to succeed.”
“We don’t have to be smarter than the rest; we have to be more disciplined than the rest.”
“It’s when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked — and when the economy turns, you see which governments have been swimming without trunks.”
“Good governance is like a good investment — it pays dividends in the long term.”
“The biggest risk of all is not taking the necessary risk to adapt and grow.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Law
“The laws of economics are like the laws of physics: inevitable and unchangeable.”
“Breaking the law is like cheating in the game of life — you may win in the short term, but you’ll lose in the end.”
“The integrity of the legal system is the bedrock of a fair and just society.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied, but a rush to judgment is equally unjust.”
“The rule of law is not just a lawyer’s principle; it is the foundation upon which civilizations are built.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Power
“Power is a lot like real estate. It’s all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source, the higher your property value.”
“With great power comes great responsibility. The key is to remember that always.”
“The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest.”
“Never underestimate the power of a simple tool that can make a profound difference in the long term.”
“The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Community
“A sense of community is the best form of insurance one can have.”
“The community you want to live in is the community you have to help build.”
“My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.”
“It’s only when the community thrives that the individual thrives.”
“A well-knit community is the strongest safeguard against the trials of the world.”
5 Best Warren Buffett quotes on Cultural Awareness
“The more you learn about other cultures, the more you understand about the world and about yourself.”
“Diversity and inclusion are not just moral imperatives; they are competitive advantages.”
“Understanding different cultures is not just an academic exercise; it’s a business necessity.”
“Cultural intelligence is as essential as emotional intelligence in today’s global economy.”
“Embrace the diversity that makes us unique, for therein lies the strength of our community.”
Final Words on Warren Buffett Quotes
Warren Buffett’s timeless wisdom transcends the boundaries of finance, reaching into the heart of personal development, interpersonal relationships, and societal governance. His words serve as a beacon for those seeking guidance in their personal journey, a blueprint for building meaningful connections with others, and a call to action for contributing positively to society.
Buffett’s emphasis on virtues like integrity, wisdom, and empathy highlights the importance of character in achieving success and fulfillment. Through his perspective on love, happiness, and friendship, we are reminded that the richest lives are measured not by material wealth but by the depth and quality of our relationships.
In addressing societal values and governance, Buffett challenges us to consider the broader impact of our actions and the role we play in shaping a just and equitable world. His insights into leadership, democracy, and community engagement urge us to strive for a society that values fairness, inclusivity, and responsibility.
The 100 quotes curated here offer a glimpse into the mind of one of the most successful investors and profound thinkers of our time. Warren Buffett’s advice transcends the realms of investment and business, providing timeless wisdom that encourages us to reflect on our values, pursue our passions, and contribute to a better world.
As we navigate the complexities of life, 100 best quotes of Warren Buffett serve as a valuable resource, inspiring us to lead with wisdom, act with compassion, and live with purpose. His legacy, encapsulated in these quotes, continues to influence and inspire generations, proving that true wealth lies in knowledge, relationships, and the positive impact we have on the world around us.