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Business Quote by John C. Bogle

“If you're very talented and keep winning, you'll do just fine. It may take a while. But the talent is hard to identify and talent is hard to tell from luck. There's an awful lot of luck in this business. Past performance is not helpful in judging future performance.” quote by John C. Bogle
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“If you're very talented and keep winning, you'll do just fine. It may take a while. But the talent is hard to identify and talent is hard to tell from luck. There's an awful lot of luck in this business. Past performance is not helpful in judging future performance.”

John C. Bogle

About This Quote

Source Interview: The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, 2007

Success depends on talent, luck, and time; past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.

In simple terms: Talent, luck, and time matter; past performance isn’t predictive.

Key Takeaway

Focus on long‑term fundamentals, not short‑term wins.

Themes

investment uncertainty performance

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

financial advice

When to use this quote

  • stock market
  • career planning
  • entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

behavioral finance risk management probability

Questions to Reflect On

  • What metrics truly reflect skill over luck?
  • How can you mitigate randomness in decisions?
A Different Perspective

Luck can dominate short‑term results, obscuring skill.

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