---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of people think if you just had…"
description: "\"A lot of people think if you just had more process and more compliance -- checks and doublechecks and so forth -- you could create a better result in t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg"
---

#  A lot of people think if you just had more process and…

![“A lot of people think if you just had more process and more compliance -- checks and doublechecks and so forth -- you could create a better result in the world. Well, Berkshire has had practically no process. We had hardly any internal auditing until they forced it on us. We just try to operate in…” quote by Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg)

> “A lot of people think if you just had more process and more compliance -- checks and doublechecks and so forth -- you could create a better result in the world. Well, Berkshire has had practically no process. We had hardly any internal auditing until they forced it on us. We just try to operate in a seamless web of deserved trust and be careful whom we trust.”

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Munger argues that excessive processes and compliance can hinder performance, advocating for trust-based, low‑bureaucracy operations.

**In simple terms:** Too many rules can hurt results; trust works better.

Key Takeaway

Build trust, limit unnecessary procedures.

Themes

trust efficiency leadership

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

business philosophical

When to use this quote

- team building
- venture capital
- government agencies
- non‑profits
- software development

Key Concepts

organizational design risk management corporate culture

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance trust with accountability?
- What controls are essential in your organization?

A Different Perspective

Trust can be abused; lack of oversight may cause fraud.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliance/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [A robust internal auditing program shows its presence both at the beginning and end of continual improvement projects. In the beginning, internal audits identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-novak/a-robust-internal-auditing-program-shows-its-presence-both-at-the/)

[John Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-novak/)

> [ We don't have an isolated group \[of senior managers\] surrounded by servants. Berkshire's headquarters is a tiny little suite. We just came back from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-don-t-have-an-isolated-group-of-senior-managers-surrounded-by/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Berkshire has the lowest turnover of any major company in the U.S.The Walton family owns more of Wal-Mart than Buffett owns of Berkshire, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/berkshire-has-the-lowest-turnover-of-any-major-company-in-the-u-s-the/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [One of the smartest things a person can do is dampen investment expectations, especially with Berkshire. That would be mature and responsible. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/one-of-the-smartest-things-a-person-can-do-is-dampen-investment/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I'm a bull on Berkshire Hathaway. There may be some considerable waiting, but I think there are some good days ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-m-a-bull-on-berkshire-hathaway-there-may-be-some-considerable/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Berkshire was built on the eternal verities: basic mathematics, basic horse sense, basic fear, and basic diagnosis of human nature to make predictions regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/berkshire-was-built-on-the-eternal-verities-basic-mathematics-basic/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Berkshire's past record has been almost ridiculous. If Berkshirehad used even half the leverage of, say, Rupert Murdoch, it would be five times its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/berkshire-s-past-record-has-been-almost-ridiculous-if-berkshirehad/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [At Berkshire Hathaway we do not like to compete against Chinese manufacturers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/at-berkshire-hathaway-we-do-not-like-to-compete-against-chinese/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [We don't have any miraculous way of avoiding taxes at Wesco and Berkshire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-don-t-have-any-miraculous-way-of-avoiding-taxes-at-wesco-and/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [This is an amazingly sound place. We are more disaster-resistant than most other places. We haven't pushed it as hard as other people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/this-is-an-amazingly-sound-place-we-are-more-disaster-resistant-than/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [If you get into Scientology, you will go to auditing. It's like therapy except that there is an E-meter between you and your auditor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/if-you-get-into-scientology-you-will-go-to-auditing-it-s-like-therapy/)

[Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/)

> [We are constantly auditing our supply chain. Making sure that safety standards are - are, you know, are the highest. We're making sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/we-are-constantly-auditing-our-supply-chain-making-sure-that-safety/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [My fantasy is that there is a new regulatory body that is in charge of algorithmic auditing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/my-fantasy-is-that-there-is-a-new-regulatory-body-that-is-in-charge/)

[Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/)

> [Paralysis, anxiety stomachs, arthritis and many ills and aberrations have been relieved by auditing them. An E-Meter shows them up and makes them confess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/paralysis-anxiety-stomachs-arthritis-and-many-ills-and-aberrations/)

[Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/)

> [I set up a company, an algorithmic auditing company myself. I have no clients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-set-up-a-company-an-algorithmic-auditing-company-myself-i-have-no/)

[Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/)

## More by Charlie Munger

> [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I think time and time again, in reality, psychological notions and economic notions interplay, and the man who doesn't understand both is a damned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-think-time-and-time-again-in-reality-psychological-notions-and/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [The tax code gives you an enormous advantage if you can find some things you can just sit with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-tax-code-gives-you-an-enormous-advantage-if-you-can-find-some/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [The great lesson in microeconomics is to discriminate between when technology is going to help you and when it's going to kill you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-great-lesson-in-microeconomics-is-to-discriminate-between-when/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Some years ago one oil company bought a fertilizer company, and every other major oil company practically ran out and bought a fertilizer company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/some-years-ago-one-oil-company-bought-a-fertilizer-company-and-every/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [ They \[Mc Donalds\] take people and give them a first job, which enables them to get a second job. They do a very good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/they-mc-donalds-take-people-and-give-them-a-first-job-which-enables/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [What good is envy? It’s the one sin you can’t have any fun at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/what-good-is-envy-it-s-the-one-sin-you-can-t-have-any-fun-at/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [We believe that almost all really good investment records will involve relatively little diversification. The basic idea that it was hard to find good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-believe-that-almost-all-really-good-investment-records-will/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [It is way less certain to be a wonderful business in the future. The threat is alternative mediums of information. Every newspaper is scrambling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-is-way-less-certain-to-be-a-wonderful-business-in-the-future-the/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [We have to have a special insight, or we'll put it in the 'too tough' basket. All of you have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/we-have-to-have-a-special-insight-or-we-ll-put-it-in-the-too-tough/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [I've heard that one-half of the students at elite schools want to go into private equity or hedge funds. They want to keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-ve-heard-that-one-half-of-the-students-at-elite-schools-want-to-go/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

[Explore all 544 Charlie Munger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

## More Be careful quotes

> [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/)

[Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/)

> [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/)

[Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/)

[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/)

> [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/)

[L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/)

> [Well sometimes, culture can stifle talent, so you have to be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/well-sometimes-culture-can-stifle-talent-so-you-have-to-be-careful/)

[Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/)

> [And so we have to be careful with looking at additional stimulus that we don't provoke an increase in the bond rate and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-raines/and-so-we-have-to-be-careful-with-looking-at-additional-stimulus-that/)

[Franklin Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-raines/)

> [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books-said-tessa-and-what-is-inside/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Be careful, once water is spilled, it can never return to its container](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciel-phantomhive/be-careful-once-water-is-spilled-it-can-never-return-to-its-container/)

[Ciel Phantomhive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciel-phantomhive/)

> [We used to tell our receivers, 'If you want to run an inside breaking route, and you want to fight for yardage after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/we-used-to-tell-our-receivers-if-you-want-to-run-an-inside-breaking/)

[Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/)

> [A bad investment is going for quantity over quality. If you're trying to be careful with your wallet, especially with the economy right now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/a-bad-investment-is-going-for-quantity-over-quality-if-you-re-trying/)

[Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/)

Browse all 989 Be careful quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A lot of people think if you just had more process and more compliance -- checks and doublechecks and so forth -- you could create a better result in the world. Well, Berkshire has had practically no process. We had hardly any internal auditing until they forced it on us. We just try to operate in a seamless web of deserved trust and be careful whom we trust.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charlie Munger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-more-process-and-more/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be careful"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-more-process-and-more/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/charlie-munger-458_be-careful_a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-mo_839202.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A lot of people think if you just had more process and more compliance -- checks and doublechecks and so…” — Charlie Munger",
                "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": "Charlie Munger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A lot of people think if...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-more-process-and-more/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/a-lot-of-people-think-if-you-just-had-more-process-and-more/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
