--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is no difficult trick to bring a great…" description: "\"It is no difficult trick to bring a great deal of energy, study, and native ability into Wall Street and to end up with losses instead of profits. Thes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/benjamin-graham-1531_ability_it-is-no-difficult-trick-to-bring-a-grea_1043278.jpg" --- # It is no difficult trick to bring a great deal of energy… ![“It is no difficult trick to bring a great deal of energy, study, and native ability into Wall Street and to end up with losses instead of profits. These virtues, if channeled in the wrong directions, become indistinguishable from handicaps.” quote by Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/benjamin-graham-1531_ability_it-is-no-difficult-trick-to-bring-a-grea_1043278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/benjamin-graham-1531_ability_it-is-no-difficult-trick-to-bring-a-grea_1043278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/benjamin-graham-1531_ability_it-is-no-difficult-trick-to-bring-a-grea_1043278.jpg) > “It is no difficult trick to bring a great deal of energy, study, and native ability into Wall Street and to end up with losses instead of profits. These virtues, if channeled in the wrong directions, become indistinguishable from handicaps.” [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Energy and talent misdirected can turn strengths into liabilities, leading to failure despite good intentions. **In simple terms:** Misused abilities cause loss. Key Takeaway Channel strengths wisely. Themes finance psychology risk management Mood cautious analytical Type advisory reflective When to use this quote - investment decisions - career planning - skill development - risk assessment Key Concepts Opportunity cost behavioral bias resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can you align your strengths with the right goals? - What safeguards prevent misdirection? A Different Perspective Even with talent, poor direction yields loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [End Losses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-losses-2058974/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Handicaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handicaps/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instead Profits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-profits-2451833/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Losses Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losses-instead-2451832/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profits/) [Profits Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profits-virtues-2451831/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/) [Wrong direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-direction/) ## Related quotes > [I don't make excuses for my losses. Instead, I use them as motivation, as a mistake I made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-rua/i-don-t-make-excuses-for-my-losses-instead-i-use-them-as-motivation/) [Mauricio Rua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-rua/) > [“At the core of each lay suffering; our eventual end, the many losses we must experience on the way to that end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/at-the-core-of-each-lay-suffering-our-eventual-end-the-many-losses-we/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [An end to our getting is the only end to our losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/an-end-to-our-getting-is-the-only-end-to-our-losses/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Speculators often prosper through ignorance; it is a cliché that in a roaring bull market knowledge is superfluous and experience is a handicap. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/speculators-often-prosper-through-ignorance-it-is-a-clich-that-in-a/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [As a young girl, I was very proud at overcoming a reading handicap whilst other girls of my age read abundantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/as-a-young-girl-i-was-very-proud-at-overcoming-a-reading-handicap/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [Community life is not easy for somebody like me, who is used to living by himself and doing what he wants. It's a demanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/community-life-is-not-easy-for-somebody-like-me-who-is-used-to-living/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [There's more fun in hunting with the handicap of the bow than there is in hunting with the sureness of the gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/there-s-more-fun-in-hunting-with-the-handicap-of-the-bow-than-there/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) > [Each person is sacred, no matter what his or her culture, religion, handicap, or fragility. Each person is created in God’s image; each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-person-is-sacred-no-matter-what-his-or-her-culture-religion/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/when-jesus-christ-asked-little-children-to-come-to-him-he-didn-t-say/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Handicaps are mindsets. Whatever it is that stands in the way of achieving something, that's when it's a handicap. I prefer to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cox/handicaps-are-mindsets-whatever-it-is-that-stands-in-the-way-of/) [Jessica Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cox/) > [I have learned that some people who look fine are more crippled than I am, by fears they can’t explain. Other people are held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cammie-mcgovern/i-have-learned-that-some-people-who-look-fine-are-more-crippled-than/) [Cammie McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cammie-mcgovern/) > [Alcoholism, the opium habit and tobaccoism are a trio of poison habits which have been weighty handicaps to human progress during the last three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-kellogg/alcoholism-the-opium-habit-and-tobaccoism-are-a-trio-of-poison-habits/) [John Harvey Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-kellogg/) > [A polo handicap is a persons ticket to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/a-polo-handicap-is-a-persons-ticket-to-the-world/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You have to watch your handicap. My son Steve says, "Never make a putt you don't have to."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/you-have-to-watch-your-handicap-my-son-steve-says-never-make-a-putt/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More by Benjamin Graham > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [There is something paradoxical in the fact that by establishing an export market we subject our entire domestic production to the vagaries of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/there-is-something-paradoxical-in-the-fact-that-by-establishing-an/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Those with the enterprise lack the money and those with the money lack the enterprise to buy stocks when they are cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/those-with-the-enterprise-lack-the-money-and-those-with-the-money/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [It must be fundamentally wrong to reduce production of food and fiber while one-third of our population is still ill fed and ill clothed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/it-must-be-fundamentally-wrong-to-reduce-production-of-food-and-fiber/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-intelligent-investor-is-a-realist-who-sells-to-optimists-and-buys/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Intelligent investment is more a matter of mental approach than it is of technique. A sound mental approach toward stock fluctuations is the touchstone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/intelligent-investment-is-more-a-matter-of-mental-approach-than-it-is/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Many progressive economists insist that gold is now in essentially the same position as silver and that the arguments the simon-pure gold advocates use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/many-progressive-economists-insist-that-gold-is-now-in-essentially/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The art of investment has one characteristic that is not generally appreciated. A creditable, if unspectacular, result can be achieved by the lay investor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-art-of-investment-has-one-characteristic-that-is-not-generally/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [We have not known a single person who has consistently or lastingly make money by thus "following the market". We do not hesitate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/we-have-not-known-a-single-person-who-has-consistently-or-lastingly/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The essence of investment management is the management of risks, not the management of returns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-essence-of-investment-management-is-the-management-of-risks-not/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Wall Street people learn nothing and forget everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/wall-street-people-learn-nothing-and-forget-everything/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [In security analysis the prime stress is laid upon protection against untoward events. We obtain this protection by insisting upon margins of safety, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/in-security-analysis-the-prime-stress-is-laid-upon-protection-against/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Never buy a stock immediately after a substantial rise or sell one immediately after a substantial drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/never-buy-a-stock-immediately-after-a-substantial-rise-or-sell-one/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Observation over many years has taught us that the chief losses to investors come from the purchase of low-quality securities at times of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/observation-over-many-years-has-taught-us-that-the-chief-losses-to/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [No matter how careful you are, the one risk no investor can ever eliminate is the risk of being wrong. Only by insisting on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/no-matter-how-careful-you-are-the-one-risk-no-investor-can-ever/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) [Explore all 229 Benjamin Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is no difficult trick to bring a great deal of energy, study, and native ability into Wall Street and to end up with losses instead of profits. 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