I wouldn't want to manufacture cigarettes. But if I owned…
“I wouldn't want to manufacture cigarettes. But if I owned - we do own Costco. Do they sell them? Yes. So I don't have a problem owning stock in that. But I just wouldn't want to - I wouldn't want to do it myself. I basically think, if anything is sufficiently antisocial, society should do something about it. But that's a separate question. But - and I don't think there's any company that I have seen that's 100 percent pure.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Investors should avoid owning companies that produce harmful products, even if they profit from them.
In simple terms: Avoid investing in harmful businesses.
Key Takeaway
Choose ethical investments.
Themes
ethics
investment
social responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- stock selection
- portfolio management
- corporate governance
- personal values
Key Concepts
corporate morality
stakeholder theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance profit and principle?
- Can you divest without harming your portfolio?
A Different Perspective
Profit motives can conflict with personal ethics, making pure decisions difficult.