--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think it makes any sense for an…" description: "\"I don't think it makes any sense for an individual to invest in common stocks unless they know the company, work at the company, and so on.\" — Eli Broad" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg" --- # I don't think it makes any sense for an individual to… ![“I don't think it makes any sense for an individual to invest in common stocks unless they know the company, work at the company, and so on.” quote by Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg) > “I don't think it makes any sense for an individual to invest in common stocks unless they know the company, work at the company, and so on.” [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Investing in stocks without deep knowledge of the company is unwise; personal involvement improves decision quality. **In simple terms:** Know the company before investing. Key Takeaway Research before buying stocks. Themes investment due diligence personal involvement Mood cautious practical Type financial advice investment When to use this quote - portfolio building - career decisions - education programs Key Concepts financial literacy risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can investors gain insight efficiently? - What role does insider knowledge play? A Different Perspective Time constraints limit deep research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Stocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stocks/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Most investors, both institutional and individual, will find that the best way to own common stocks (shares') is through an index fund that charges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/most-investors-both-institutional-and-individual-will-find-that-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Most of the time common stocks are subject to irrational and excessive price fluctuations in both directions as the consequence of the ingrained tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/most-of-the-time-common-stocks-are-subject-to-irrational-and/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [It is an unfortunate fact that great and foolish excess can come into prices of common stocks in the aggregate. They are valued partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-is-an-unfortunate-fact-that-great-and-foolish-excess-can-come-into/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Believing that fundamental conditions of the country are sound and there is nothing in the business situation to warrant the destruction of values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/believing-that-fundamental-conditions-of-the-country-are-sound-and/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [A price decline is of no real importance to the bona fide investor unless it is either very substantial say, more than a third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/a-price-decline-is-of-no-real-importance-to-the-bona-fide-investor/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The model I like to sort of simplify the notion of what goes on in a market for common stocks is the pari-mutuel system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-model-i-like-to-sort-of-simplify-the-notion-of-what-goes-on-in-a/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“We recommended that the investor divide his holdings between high-grade bonds and leading common stocks; that the proportion held in bonds be never less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/we-recommended-that-the-investor-divide-his-holdings-between-high/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The history of the past fifty years, and longer, indicates that a diversified holding of representative common stocks will prove more profitable over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-history-of-the-past-fifty-years-and-longer-indicates-that-a/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [You shouldn't own common stocks if a 50 per cent decrease in their value in a short period of time would cause you acute distress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-shouldn-t-own-common-stocks-if-a-50-per-cent-decrease-in-their/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The genuine investor in common stocks does not need a great equipment of brain and knowledge, but he does need some unusual qualities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-genuine-investor-in-common-stocks-does-not-need-a-great-equipment/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [“While from 1922 to 1929 real wages in manufacturing went up per capita 1.4 percent a year, the holders of common stocks gained 16.4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/while-from-1922-to-1929-real-wages-in-manufacturing-went-up-per/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [If you are shopping for common stocks, choose them the way you would buy groceries, not the way you would buy perfume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/if-you-are-shopping-for-common-stocks-choose-them-the-way-you-would/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [It always seemed, and still seems, ridiculously simple to say that if one can acquire a diversified group of common stocks at a price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/it-always-seemed-and-still-seems-ridiculously-simple-to-say-that-if/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The distinction between investment and speculation in common stocks has always been a useful one and its disappearance is cause for concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-distinction-between-investment-and-speculation-in-common-stocks/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [“I have little confidence even in the ability of analysts, let alone untrained investors, to select common stocks that will give better than average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/i-have-little-confidence-even-in-the-ability-of-analysts-let-alone/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) ## More by Eli Broad > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Museums do not share their collections with other museums unless they get something in exchange. The Metropolitan will deal with the Louvre, but will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/museums-do-not-share-their-collections-with-other-museums-unless-they/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I believe that a newspaper is a great civic asset and that ownership is best in the hands of foundations or wealthy families that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-believe-that-a-newspaper-is-a-great-civic-asset-and-that-ownership/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Collectors become obsessive and then addicted. You become addicted to art and you can't live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/collectors-become-obsessive-and-then-addicted-you-become-addicted-to/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I've got a big ego, I admit it; I'm ego-driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-ve-got-a-big-ego-i-admit-it-i-m-ego-driven/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [It's critical that states improve how teachers are trained, recruited, evaluated, compensated, advanced, and retained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/it-s-critical-that-states-improve-how-teachers-are-trained-recruited/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [The best move you can make in negotiation is to think of an incentive the other person hasn't even thought of - and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/the-best-move-you-can-make-in-negotiation-is-to-think-of-an-incentive/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Artists rarely do the same thing over and over again. Art is about the new, doing things in a new way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/artists-rarely-do-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-art-is-about-the/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [People would rather have art or gold instead of paper money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/people-would-rather-have-art-or-gold-instead-of-paper-money/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [School boards are, for the most part ,made up of political wannabes who see a board seat as a stepping stone for political office,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/school-boards-are-for-the-most-part-made-up-of-political-wannabes-who/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [In high school, I would drive my teachers batty. They would make a statement, and I would say, 'Why is that?' They didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/in-high-school-i-would-drive-my-teachers-batty-they-would-make-a/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I don't like to spend time in endless meetings talking about stuff that isn't going to get anything done. I have meetings, but they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-don-t-like-to-spend-time-in-endless-meetings-talking-about-stuff/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Who you spend your life with-much more so than how you choose to spend it-is the most important decision you can make. Do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/who-you-spend-your-life-with-much-more-so-than-how-you-choose-to/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/to-me-unconventional-thinking-is-approaching-a-problem-and-asking-why/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Research – and using what you learn from it to analyze every situation – is what separates being unreasonable from being irrational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/research-and-using-what-you-learn-from-it-to-analyze-every-situation/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) [Explore all 97 Eli Broad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think it makes any sense for an individual to invest in common stocks unless they know the company, work at the company, and so on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eli Broad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an-individual-to-invest-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an-individual-to-invest-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/eli-broad-6856_business_i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an_1554403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think it makes any sense for an individual to invest in common stocks unless they know the company…” — Eli Broad", "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": "Eli Broad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think it makes any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an-individual-to-invest-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-don-t-think-it-makes-any-sense-for-an-individual-to-invest-in/#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 } } ] } ```