Avoiding Quote by Seth Klarman
“Warren Buffett likes to say that the first rule of investing is "Don't lose money," and the second rule is, "Never forget the first rule." I too believe that avoiding loss should be the primary goal of every investor. This does not mean that investors should never incur the risk of any loss at all. Rather "don't lose money" means that over several years an investment portfolio should not be exposed to appreciable loss of principal.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: "The Art of Value Investing" with Seth Klarman, 2015
Preserving capital is the foundation; risk must be managed over time, not avoided entirely.
In simple terms: Protect capital, manage risk.
Prioritize capital preservation, accept calculated risk.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- retirement planning
- stock market
- real estate
- business ventures
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance risk and reward?
- What safeguards protect your principal?
Risk cannot be eliminated, only mitigated.