--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good shareholder activists have…" description: "\"Good shareholder activists have incredible interest in the company because they own a lot of it.\" — Ben Horowitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png" --- # Good shareholder activists have incredible interest in the… ![“Good shareholder activists have incredible interest in the company because they own a lot of it.” quote by Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png) > “Good shareholder activists have incredible interest in the company because they own a lot of it.” [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shareholder activists care deeply because they have significant ownership stakes. **In simple terms:** Activists own much, so they care. Key Takeaway Recognize activist influence. Themes business governance shareholder activism Mood analytical critical Type observation insight When to use this quote - mergers - board elections - strategic decisions Key Concepts ownership incentives corporate control Questions to Reflect On - What motivates activist shareholders? - How can companies balance activist influence? A Different Perspective Activists may prioritize personal gain over broader interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activists/) [Activists Incredible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activists-incredible-3980038/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Shareholder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-shareholder-3877411/) [Incredible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredible/) [Incredible Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredible-company-2974706/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Shareholder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareholder/) [Shareholder Activists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareholder-activists-3980037/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think our fiduciary duty is to put shareholders first. I say the opposite. What we firmly believe is that if we focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-don-t-think-our-fiduciary-duty-is-to-put-shareholders-first-i-say/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [Oligopoly, plutocracy, kleptocracy: All things that are good for a shareholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cramer/oligopoly-plutocracy-kleptocracy-all-things-that-are-good-for-a/) [Jim Cramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cramer/) > [My work with Combate Americas, in particular, has been incredible because the company keeps growing at an incredible rate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-del-rio/my-work-with-combate-americas-in-particular-has-been-incredible/) [Alberto Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-del-rio/) > [Amazon is an incredible company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/amazon-is-an-incredible-company/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [Magic in plays and musicals, I think, is more often created because of the work of an incredible company rather than a single component.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/magic-in-plays-and-musicals-i-think-is-more-often-created-because-of/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [Shareholder activism works when activists understand something about the characteristics of the business that the board doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/shareholder-activism-works-when-activists-understand-something-about/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Government is the people's business and every man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of tax paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/government-is-the-people-s-business-and-every-man-woman-and-child/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is always important that we have transparency, that we have shareholder protection. Then again, I think it is important that there are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-otto/it-is-always-important-that-we-have-transparency-that-we-have/) [Michael Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-otto/) > [We need to create shareholder value. That is why I am here. 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Your main constituencies are your employees, your customers and your products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/shareholder-value-is-a-result-not-a-strategy-your-main-constituencies/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I do not work for the shareholder, to be honest. I work for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-do-not-work-for-the-shareholder-to-be-honest-i-work-for-the-customer/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) ## More by Ben Horowitz > [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Groupon looked like a very high valuation, but any investment in a great company at any stage is almost always a good investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/groupon-looked-like-a-very-high-valuation-but-any-investment-in-a/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [By far the most difficult skill I learned as a C.E.O. was the ability to manage my own psychology. Organizational design, process design, metrics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/by-far-the-most-difficult-skill-i-learned-as-a-c-e-o-was-the-ability/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“The hard thing is when those “great people” develop a sense of entitlement and start demanding unreasonable things. The hard thing isn’t setting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-hard-thing-is-when-those-great-people-develop-a-sense-of/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“As painful as it might be, I knew that we had to get into the broader market in order to understand it well enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/as-painful-as-it-might-be-i-knew-that-we-had-to-get-into-the-broader/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“On my grandfather’s tombstone, you will find his favorite Marx quote: “Life is struggle.” I believe that within that quote lies the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/on-my-grandfather-s-tombstone-you-will-find-his-favorite-marx-quote/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“Bill Campbell: "It's not about the money." Ben Horowitz: "What's it about, Bill?" Bill: "It's about the FUCKING money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/bill-campbell-it-s-not-about-the-money-ben-horowitz-what-s-it-about/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [When the value of the company clearly has fallen below what its assets are worth, having a shareholder who says, 'Let's get a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/when-the-value-of-the-company-clearly-has-fallen-below-what-its/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [One person is never as stupid as a group of people. That's why they have lynch mobs, not lynch individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/one-person-is-never-as-stupid-as-a-group-of-people-that-s-why-they/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“out the right product is the innovator’s job, not the customer’s job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/out-the-right-product-is-the-innovator-s-job-not-the-customer-s-job/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [As companies move to web-based computing they get a lot more servers, which are difficult to manage and control. All kinds of problems can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/as-companies-move-to-web-based-computing-they-get-a-lot-more-servers/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Breakthrough ideas usually come from guys who look like they're hallucinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/breakthrough-ideas-usually-come-from-guys-who-look-like-they-re/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [When screening engineers from other companies, its smart to value engineers from great companies more than those from mediocre companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/when-screening-engineers-from-other-companies-its-smart-to-value/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“The difference between being mediocre and magical is often the difference between letting people take creative risk and holding them too tightly accountable. Accountability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-difference-between-being-mediocre-and-magical-is-often-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) [Explore all 207 Ben Horowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## More Activists quotes > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [O.K., helplessness is repugnant to me, as a father, as a piece of protoplasm. My parents were activists. I don't believe you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-brickman/o-k-helplessness-is-repugnant-to-me-as-a-father-as-a-piece-of/) [Marshall Brickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-brickman/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [Activists take the risks, while advocates are professional tinkerers with the system. What's necessary is for those who are advocates to support those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/activists-take-the-risks-while-advocates-are-professional-tinkerers/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [My parents were civil rights activists, and my mother was active in the feminist movement. Issues concerning marginalized people and especially women of color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-holmes/my-parents-were-civil-rights-activists-and-my-mother-was-active-in/) [Anna Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-holmes/) > [Too many activists have convinced themselves that they have a monopoly on truth. A little humility and a sense of history could move us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/too-many-activists-have-convinced-themselves-that-they-have-a/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [After the ignominious collapse of the Copenhagen global climate change summit in 2009, Bolivia organised a People's Summit with 35,000 participants from 140 countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/after-the-ignominious-collapse-of-the-copenhagen-global-climate/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I believe people who practice their beliefs in daily life are activists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-guy/i-believe-people-who-practice-their-beliefs-in-daily-life-are/) [Jasmine Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-guy/) > [MPs are only elected thanks to the help of ordinary members - activists on the ground who traipse the streets, post leaflets and engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/mps-are-only-elected-thanks-to-the-help-of-ordinary-members-activists/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [“To face the days ahead we must ask two questions: first, "Where are we?" and second, "Where do we go from here?" 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Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-mann/) [Browse all 202 Activists quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activists/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good shareholder activists have incredible interest in the company because they own a lot of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Horowitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/good-shareholder-activists-have-incredible-interest-in-the-company/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activists" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/good-shareholder-activists-have-incredible-interest-in-the-company/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ben-horowitz-1791_activists_good-shareholder-activists-have-incredib_457574.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good shareholder activists have incredible interest in the company because they own a lot of it.” — Ben Horowitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Horowitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Good shareholder activists have incredible interest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/good-shareholder-activists-have-incredible-interest-in-the-company/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/good-shareholder-activists-have-incredible-interest-in-the-company/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```