Acumen Quote by Paul Samuelson
“First, those who disagree with market efficiency simply assert that it stands to common sense that greater effort to get facts and greater acumen in analyzing those facts will pay off in better performance somehow measured. (By this logic, cure for cancer must have been found by 1955).”
About This Quote
Source Book: Foundations of Economic Analysis, 1947
Efficiency assumes all available information is reflected in prices; seeking extra data rarely yields better returns.
In simple terms: Extra effort rarely beats market prices.
Key Takeaway
Rely on market signals, not exhaustive data.
Themes
economics
efficiency
information
investment
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
advisory
critical
When to use this quote
- stock picking
- fundamental analysis
- active trading
- risk management
Key Concepts
Market hypothesis
information asymmetry
behavioral finance
Questions to Reflect On
- Is active management truly superior?
- When does extra research add value?
A Different Perspective
Markets can be irrational; data may be noisy.
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