--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All we try to do is buy a dollar for 40…" description: "\"All we try to do is buy a dollar for 40 cents.\" — Peter Cundill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/peter-cundill-18943_cents_all-we-try-to-do-is-buy-a-dollar-for-40_2678522.jpg" --- # All we try to do is buy a dollar for 40 cents. ![“All we try to do is buy a dollar for 40 cents.” quote by Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/peter-cundill-18943_cents_all-we-try-to-do-is-buy-a-dollar-for-40_2678522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/peter-cundill-18943_cents_all-we-try-to-do-is-buy-a-dollar-for-40_2678522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/peter-cundill-18943_cents_all-we-try-to-do-is-buy-a-dollar-for-40_2678522.jpg) > “All we try to do is buy a dollar for 40 cents.” [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques buying overvalued assets, emphasizing the need for disciplined, value‑based investing. **In simple terms:** Avoid overpaying for investments. Key Takeaway Seek true value, not price. Themes investing value discipline Mood analytical pragmatic Type financial educational When to use this quote - stock market speculation - portfolio construction - financial planning Key Concepts market efficiency behavioral finance risk management Questions to Reflect On - What criteria define value for you? - How do you balance price and potential? A Different Perspective May ignore growth potential of high‑price assets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Donald Trump\] would give wealthy families 30 cents or 40 cents on the dollar for their nannies, and little or nothing for millions of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-would-give-wealthy-families-30-cents-or-40-cents-on-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [According to a recent survey, kids are receiving an average of 40 cents less from the tooth fairy. That's right, the economy is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/according-to-a-recent-survey-kids-are-receiving-an-average-of-40/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [My parents didn't know much science; in fact, they didn't know science at all. But they could recognize a science book when they saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/my-parents-didn-t-know-much-science-in-fact-they-didn-t-know-science/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You could take that to the bank and deposit that. Put your two cents in, and get a dollar back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/you-could-take-that-to-the-bank-and-deposit-that-put-your-two-cents/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Money's the same, whoever gives it to you. That was the point of money, after all: crisp and clean or wrinkled or disintegrated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/money-s-the-same-whoever-gives-it-to-you-that-was-the-point-of-money/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [When you're borrowing 40 cents of every dollar that you spend, that can't continue much longer. I think everybody really does understand that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/when-you-re-borrowing-40-cents-of-every-dollar-that-you-spend-that/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [We have Latinas in California making 55 cents on the dollar. Black women making 63 cents on the dollar. White women making 78 cents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/we-have-latinas-in-california-making-55-cents-on-the-dollar-black/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Don't use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/don-t-use-a-five-dollar-word-when-a-fifty-cent-word-will-do/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The 77 cents that women make for every dollar men earn makes a real difference to our families - families stretching to make every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/the-77-cents-that-women-make-for-every-dollar-men-earn-makes-a-real/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/in-1973-women-got-59-cents-on-the-dollar-now-we-are-getting-74-cents/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Why will someone sell you a dollar for 50 cents? Because in the short run, people are irrational on both the optimistic and pessimistic side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/why-will-someone-sell-you-a-dollar-for-50-cents-because-in-the-short/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [America is the country where you can buy a lifetime supply of aspirin For one dollar and use it up in two weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/america-is-the-country-where-you-can-buy-a-lifetime-supply-of-aspirin/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [The more competitive value of the dollar turned around the trade deficit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/the-more-competitive-value-of-the-dollar-turned-around-the-trade/) [Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) ## More by Peter Cundill > [The company must be profitable. Preferably it will have increased its earnings for the past five years and there will have been no deficits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-company-must-be-profitable-preferably-it-will-have-increased-its/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [The difference between the price we pay for a stock and its liquidation value gives us a margin of safety. This kind of investing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-difference-between-the-price-we-pay-for-a-stock-and-its/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [The price must be less than one half of the former high and preferably at or near its all time low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-price-must-be-less-than-one-half-of-the-former-high-and/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [Try to pick a fund manager who has a well-defined strategy, has been through these things before, and go invest and stay with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/try-to-pick-a-fund-manager-who-has-a-well-defined-strategy-has-been/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [Why will someone sell you a dollar for 50 cents? Because in the short run, people are irrational on both the optimistic and pessimistic side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/why-will-someone-sell-you-a-dollar-for-50-cents-because-in-the-short/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [The most important attribute for success in value investing is patience, patience, and more patience. The majority of investors do not possess this characteristic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-most-important-attribute-for-success-in-value-investing-is/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [You find bargains among the unpopular things, the things that everybody hates. The key is that you must have patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/you-find-bargains-among-the-unpopular-things-the-things-that/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [When a stock doubles, sell half - then what you have is a free position. 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Preferably it will be less than net working capital less long term debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-share-price-must-be-less-than-book-value-preferably-it-will-be/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [The company must be paying dividends. Preferably the dividend will have been increasing and have been paid for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-company-must-be-paying-dividends-preferably-the-dividend-will/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [Curiosity is the engine of civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/curiosity-is-the-engine-of-civilisation/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [The price earning multiple must be less than ten or the inverse of the long term corporate bond rate, whichever is the less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-price-earning-multiple-must-be-less-than-ten-or-the-inverse-of/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [I think that intelligent forecasting (company revenues, earnings, etc.) should not seek to predict what will in fact happen in the future. Its purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/i-think-that-intelligent-forecasting-company-revenues-earnings-etc/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) [Explore all 33 Peter Cundill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) ## More Cents quotes > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [I never write Metropolis for seven cents because I can get the same price for city. I never write policeman because I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-never-write-metropolis-for-seven-cents-because-i-can-get-the-same/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [Ninety nine per cent of the time, for anyone who wins or makes money, it makes them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/ninety-nine-per-cent-of-the-time-for-anyone-who-wins-or-makes-money/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [The Pink Panther wasn't shown to the press for reasons that soon became apparent when I saw it at a public performance. Two people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-french/the-pink-panther-wasn-t-shown-to-the-press-for-reasons-that-soon/) [Philip French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-french/) > [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/) Homer Bone > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [...that in spite of living in a mansion an American is not above wearing a pair of secondhand pants, bought for fifty cents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/that-in-spite-of-living-in-a-mansion-an-american-is-not-above-wearing/) [Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/) > [I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-earned-every-cent-and-in-all-of-my-years-of-public-life-i-have/) [Richard M. 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