Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you…
![“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/e7a/warren-buffett-183_employees_somebody-once-said-that-in-looking-for-p_1105527.png)
““Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Integrity is the foundation of hiring; without it, competence alone can be harmful.
In simple terms: Hire with integrity first; skill alone isn’t enough.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize honesty in recruitment.
Themes
hiring
integrity
leadership
business ethics
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
business
ethical
When to use this quote
- executive hiring
- team building
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
organizational behavior
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify integrity in candidates?
- What systems can protect against skill‑only hires?
A Different Perspective
Integrity can be hard to assess objectively during interviews.