Firsts Quote by Warren Buffett
“First come the innovators, then come the imitators, then come the idiots.”
About This Quote
Source Letter to shareholders, 2010
Innovators lead, imitators follow, and uninformed followers lag behind, highlighting the value of originality.
In simple terms: First innovators, then copycats, then fools.
Key Takeaway
Value originality.
Themes
innovation
competition
leadership
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
business
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- product development
- investment decisions
Key Concepts
first‑mover advantage
market dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you identify true innovators?
- When is imitation beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Not all imitators are foolish; some improve on originals.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
