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When people get greedy, we get cautious.

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

When people get greedy, we get cautious.

Source: Berkshire Hathaway Letters · Risk

Core Idea

The core idea is to avoid following emotional market extremes, instead acting rationally by reducing risk when others are overly optimistic and seizing opportunities when others are fearful.

Practical Application

Apply this by trimming risk and avoiding hype during market euphoria, then patiently buying quality assets at discounts when panic drives prices far below intrinsic value.

Why It Matters

Its special insight is that lasting investment success comes from countering herd emotion, prioritizing disciplined valuation over crowd sentiment, especially at extremes of fear and greed.

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?

The core idea is to avoid following emotional market extremes, instead acting rationally by reducing risk when others are overly optimistic and seizing opportunities when others are fearful.

How can readers apply this idea?

Apply this by trimming risk and avoiding hype during market euphoria, then patiently buying quality assets at discounts when panic drives prices far below intrinsic value.

Where can I read more?

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