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We think in terms of years, not quarters.

Read the full context and commentary for this Warren Buffett quote, including the core idea, practical application, and why it still matters. Warren Buffett, legendary value investor, longtime Berkshire Hathaway CEO, and disciplined advocate of buying great businesses at fair prices, built his fortune through patience, compounding, and deep fundamental analysis, a career-long philosophy that underpins enduring insights such as his famous line, "My favorite holding period is forever."

Warren Buffett quote portrait

Warren Buffett

We think in terms of years, not quarters.

Source: Berkshire Hathaway Letters · Long-term

Core Idea

Buffett emphasizes long-term thinking, focusing on enduring business value and sustainable growth rather than short-term market fluctuations or quarterly earnings, aligning decisions with multi-year outcomes instead of immediate results.

Practical Application

Apply this by choosing strong businesses you understand, holding them for years, and ignoring short-term price swings or headlines so compounding and true value can work for you.

Why It Matters

Buffett reveals that real investing edge comes from stretching your time horizon far beyond the crowd, letting business quality and compounding outrun short-term noise and performance pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About This Quote

Who said this quote?

This quote is attributed to Warren Buffett.

What is the main lesson of this quote?

Buffett emphasizes long-term thinking, focusing on enduring business value and sustainable growth rather than short-term market fluctuations or quarterly earnings, aligning decisions with multi-year outcomes instead of immediate results.

How can readers apply this idea?

Apply this by choosing strong businesses you understand, holding them for years, and ignoring short-term price swings or headlines so compounding and true value can work for you.

Where can I read more?

Use the linked author and category pages to continue exploring related ideas.