---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tend to look at potential investments…"
description: "\"I tend to look at potential investments from the standpoint of whether it is a valuable contribution to society.\" — David Cheriton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png"
---

#  I tend to look at potential investments from the…

![“I tend to look at potential investments from the standpoint of whether it is a valuable contribution to society.” quote by David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png)

> “I tend to look at potential investments from the standpoint of whether it is a valuable contribution to society.”

[David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

## About This Quote

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

Investments should be evaluated based on their societal value, not just profit.

**In simple terms:** Invest where it helps society.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize impact over returns.

Themes

ethics investment society

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

statement philosophical

When to use this quote

- venture capital
- philanthropy
- business strategy

Key Concepts

social responsibility value creation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can investors measure societal contribution?
- What trade‑offs exist between profit and impact?

A Different Perspective

Profit motives often dominate decision making.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Contribution to society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution-to-society/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Investments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investments/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/)

## Related quotes

> [Just because a company's future is highly uncertain doesn't mean an investment in it is risky. In fact, some of the best potential investments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/just-because-a-company-s-future-is-highly-uncertain-doesn-t-mean-an/)

[Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/)

> [Literally draw a detailed map-like an organization chart-of interlocking ownership and affiliates, many of which were also publicly traded. So, identifying one stock led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/literally-draw-a-detailed-map-like-an-organization-chart-of/)

[Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/)

> [There is great potential for investments that are built around improving social, environmental, and economic conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/there-is-great-potential-for-investments-that-are-built-around/)

[Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/)

> [“The most valuable contribution you have to give to the world is your time. Spend it wisely. Jealously guard it from distraction and inefficiency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-coker/the-most-valuable-contribution-you-have-to-give-to-the-world-is-your/)

Mark Coker

> [It may not always be obvious at first, but I think that everyone can make a valuable contribution if only they put their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-graves/it-may-not-always-be-obvious-at-first-but-i-think-that-everyone-can/)

[Morris Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-graves/)

> [I am now about to set seriously to work upon preparing for the press an account of my theory of Logic and Probabilities which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-boole/i-am-now-about-to-set-seriously-to-work-upon-preparing-for-the-press/)

[George Boole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-boole/)

> [Women who make a house a home make a far greater contribution to society than those who command large armies or stand at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/women-who-make-a-house-a-home-make-a-far-greater-contribution-to/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [Be involved; be informed. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/be-involved-be-informed-make-meaningful-contributions-to-society/)

[M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/)

> [ I don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments. That's no contribution to society. \[Tennis\] was purely selfish; that was for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-don-t-want-to-be-remembered-for-my-tennis-accomplishments-that-s-no/)

[Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/)

> [Money is no good unless it contributes something to the community, unless it builds a bridge to a better life. Any man can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-gaston/money-is-no-good-unless-it-contributes-something-to-the-community/)

A. G. Gaston

> [ Small business is the gateway to opportunity for those who want a piece of the American dream. \[...\] Well, wouldn't it be nice to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/small-business-is-the-gateway-to-opportunity-for-those-who-want-a/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Work outside of school hours was a necessity at an early age, and with such time as I had I turned toward interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-carlson/work-outside-of-school-hours-was-a-necessity-at-an-early-age-and-with/)

Chester Carlson

> [“There are two powerful fuels, two forces; motivation and inspiration. To be motivated you need to know what your motives are. Over time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/there-are-two-powerful-fuels-two-forces-motivation-and-inspiration-to/)

[Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/)

> [The future will be in the hands of those of you who belong to the 21st century. You have the opportunity and responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-future-will-be-in-the-hands-of-those-of-you-who-belong-to-the/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/)

[John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/)

## More by David Cheriton

> [I am a believer in Adam Smith, who says that if you look at something that really contributes value to society, and you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/i-am-a-believer-in-adam-smith-who-says-that-if-you-look-at-something/)

[David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

> [There are two kinds of researchers : those that have implemented something and those that have not. The latter will tell you that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/there-are-two-kinds-of-researchers-those-that-have-implemented/)

[David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

> [I must admit that I don't really understand social networking models that well, and I haven't tried to because I have just not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/i-must-admit-that-i-don-t-really-understand-social-networking-models/)

[David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

> [There is something about military history that fascinates me. You find that many battles have been lost by people with very good military background…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/there-is-something-about-military-history-that-fascinates-me-you-find/)

[David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

> [These people who build houses with 13 bathrooms and so on, there's something wrong with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/these-people-who-build-houses-with-13-bathrooms-and-so-on-there-s/)

[David Cheriton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

[Explore all 6 David Cheriton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/)

## More Contribution quotes

> [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/)

Vernon Johns

> [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/)

[William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/)

> [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. Almost every band that made it big in the Nineties owed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-love-black-sabbath-they-made-an-amazing-contribution-to-music-today/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/)

[Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/)

> [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/)

[Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/)

> [The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-may-gaskin/the-way-a-culture-treats-women-in-birth-is-a-good-indicator-of-how/)

[Ina May Gaskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-may-gaskin/)

> [The excellence of this important contribution to genre literature CANNOT be overstated A masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-nolan/the-excellence-of-this-important-contribution-to-genre-literature/)

William F. Nolan

> [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/)

[John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/)

> [Fundamentally transforming the foundations of the economy is the biggest contribution we can make towards building a sustainable future. The current economic crisis may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-porritt/fundamentally-transforming-the-foundations-of-the-economy-is-the/)

[Jonathon Porritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-porritt/)

> [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/)

[Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/)

> [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/replace-your-pursuit-of-success-with-the-pursuit-of-contribution/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [There is no art or science that is too difficult for industry to attain to; it is the gift of tongues, and makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/there-is-no-art-or-science-that-is-too-difficult-for-industry-to/)

[Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/)

> [What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-eminent-domain-laws-mean-in-practice-is-that-politicians-have-a/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

[Browse all 1,297 Contribution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I tend to look at potential investments from the standpoint of whether it is a valuable contribution to society.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Cheriton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments-from-the-standpoint-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Contribution"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments-from-the-standpoint-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/david-cheriton-57572_contribution_i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments_1792422.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I tend to look at potential investments from the standpoint of whether it is a valuable contribution to…” — David Cheriton",
                "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": "David Cheriton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cheriton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I tend to look at potential...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments-from-the-standpoint-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cheriton/i-tend-to-look-at-potential-investments-from-the-standpoint-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
