--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Investors must remember that their first…" description: "\"Investors must remember that their first job is to preserve their capital. After they've dealt with that, they can approach the second job, seeking a r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/irving-kahn-42039_approach_investors-must-remember-that-their-first_1151240.png" --- # Investors must remember that their first job is to… ![“Investors must remember that their first job is to preserve their capital. After they've dealt with that, they can approach the second job, seeking a return on that capital.” quote by Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/irving-kahn-42039_approach_investors-must-remember-that-their-first_1151240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/irving-kahn-42039_approach_investors-must-remember-that-their-first_1151240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/irving-kahn-42039_approach_investors-must-remember-that-their-first_1151240.png) > “Investors must remember that their first job is to preserve their capital. After they've dealt with that, they can approach the second job, seeking a return on that capital.” [Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Investors first protect capital; only after that should they seek returns, prioritizing preservation over profit. **In simple terms:** Protect capital before chasing returns. Key Takeaway Focus on capital preservation first. Themes investment capital preservation risk management finance Mood cautious analytical Type advisory strategic When to use this quote - portfolio building - retirement planning - wealth management - financial advising Key Concepts value investing risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How to balance safety and growth? - What signals indicate capital is safe to risk? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on preservation may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investors/) [Investors Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investors-remember-2930991/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Preserve Capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserve-capital-3254820/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Return Capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return-capital-788756/) [Second Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-job-274104/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) ## Related quotes > [My very first job was a cashier at Burger King in Tucson, Arizona. 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For example, if β = 600% and r = 5%,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/r-where-r-is-the-rate-of-return-on-capital-for-example-if-600-and-r-5/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Because in the New Normal you are more worried about the return of your capital, not return on your capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-el-erian/because-in-the-new-normal-you-are-more-worried-about-the-return-of/) [Mohamed El-Erian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-el-erian/) > [I certainly agree that capital is not a one-dimensional object, and that the return on capital takes very different forms for different assets or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/i-certainly-agree-that-capital-is-not-a-one-dimensional-object-and/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Obviously, consideration of costs is key, including opportunity costs. Of course capital isn't free. It's easy to figure out your cost of borrowing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/obviously-consideration-of-costs-is-key-including-opportunity-costs/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) ## More by Irving Kahn > [It is very important to have a widespread curiosity about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kahn/it-is-very-important-to-have-a-widespread-curiosity-about-life/) [Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kahn/) > [The Depression taught me what frugality means and the importance of not losing money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kahn/the-depression-taught-me-what-frugality-means-and-the-importance-of/) [Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kahn/) > [This may surprise you, but there were a large number of valuable buys during the Depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kahn/this-may-surprise-you-but-there-were-a-large-number-of-valuable-buys/) [Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kahn/) > [Real investors should never feel bearish because the time to buy value is when markets go down!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kahn/real-investors-should-never-feel-bearish-because-the-time-to-buy/) [Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kahn/) > [Don't depend on recent or current figures to forecast future prices; remember that many others knew them before you did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kahn/don-t-depend-on-recent-or-current-figures-to-forecast-future-prices/) [Irving Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kahn/) > [You must have the discipline and temperament to resist your impulses. 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If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. 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