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Business Quote by V.S. Naipaul

“A businessman is someone who buys at ten and is happy to get out at twelve. The other kind of man buys at ten, sees it rise to eighteen and does nothing. He is waiting for it to get to twenty. The beauty of numbers. When it drops to ten again he waits for it to get back to eighteen. When it drops…” quote by V.S. Naipaul
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““A businessman is someone who buys at ten and is happy to get out at twelve. The other kind of man buys at ten, sees it rise to eighteen and does nothing. He is waiting for it to get to twenty. The beauty of numbers. When it drops to ten again he waits for it to get back to eighteen. When it drops to two he waits for it to get back to ten. Well, it gets back there. But he has wasted a quarter of his life. And all he's got out of his money is a little mathematical excitement.””

V.S. Naipaul

About This Quote

Source Essay: Money and Life, 1995

A trader who waits for perfect market peaks wastes time, missing life’s broader experiences.

In simple terms: Waiting for perfect gains wastes life.

Key Takeaway

Act on reasonable opportunities.

Themes

finance patience life balance

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical financial

When to use this quote

  • setting profit targets
  • regular portfolio review
  • time‑boxing decisions
  • risk tolerance assessment

Key Concepts

opportunity cost behavioral economics investment timing

Questions to Reflect On

  • What is your personal “good enough” profit?
  • How do you balance patience with action?
A Different Perspective

Over‑optimizing can lead to analysis paralysis.

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