---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I judge property myself by its net…"
description: "\"I judge property myself by its net earning power; that is the only rule I have been able to get… This whole island [Manhattan] was once bought for a fe..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jay-gould-41126_able_i-judge-property-myself-by-its-net-earni_1222079.jpg"
---

#  I judge property myself by its net earning power; that is…

![“I judge property myself by its net earning power; that is the only rule I have been able to get… This whole island &#91;Manhattan&#93; was once bought for a few strings of beads. But now you will find this property valued by its earning power, by its rent power, and that is the way to value a railroad or…” quote by Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jay-gould-41126_able_i-judge-property-myself-by-its-net-earni_1222079.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jay-gould-41126_able_i-judge-property-myself-by-its-net-earni_1222079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jay-gould-41126_able_i-judge-property-myself-by-its-net-earni_1222079.jpg)

> “I judge property myself by its net earning power; that is the only rule I have been able to get… This whole island \[Manhattan\] was once bought for a few strings of beads. But now you will find this property valued by its earning power, by its rent power, and that is the way to value a railroad or telegraph.”

[Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-gould/)

## About This Quote

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

He evaluates property based on its ability to generate income, not its historical or sentimental value.

**In simple terms:** Value property by its income.

Key Takeaway

Focus on cash flow when investing.

Themes

investment valuation finance real estate railroads

Mood

analytical pragmatic

Type

financial strategic

When to use this quote

- real estate purchase
- railroad investment
- telegraph valuation
- portfolio analysis

Key Concepts

cash flow intrinsic value asset pricing

Questions to Reflect On

- How does cash‑flow focus affect long‑term sustainability?
- What non‑financial values might be overlooked?

A Different Perspective

Ignores non‑financial factors like cultural significance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Manhattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhattan/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Railroads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railroads/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/)

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Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

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