---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Benign neglect, bordering on sloth…"
description: "\"Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process.\" — Warren Buffett"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png"
---

#  Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark…

![“Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png)

> “Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process.”

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Investment strategy tolerates minimal oversight, implying that passive, low‑effort management can be effective.

**In simple terms:** Passive oversight can work in investing.

Key Takeaway

Adopt a hands‑off approach where appropriate.

Themes

investment passivity efficiency risk management

Mood

pragmatic analytical

Type

financial advice

When to use this quote

- long‑term holdings
- automated rebalancing
- cost‑saving strategies
- risk‑averse portfolios
- financial planning

Key Concepts

value investing portfolio theory

Questions to Reflect On

- When is passive oversight insufficient?
- How do you balance oversight with efficiency?

A Different Perspective

May ignore active management benefits in volatile markets.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/)

## Related quotes

> [Dynamic benign neglect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/dynamic-benign-neglect/)

[Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/)

> [The issue of race could benefit from a period of benign neglect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/the-issue-of-race-could-benefit-from-a-period-of-benign-neglect/)

[Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/)

> [“Instead, ourselves the beneficiaries of this kind of benign neglect, we now measure success as the extent to which we manage to keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/instead-ourselves-the-beneficiaries-of-this-kind-of-benign-neglect-we/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [All investors must come to terms with the relentless continuity of the investment process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/all-investors-must-come-to-terms-with-the-relentless-continuity-of/)

[Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/)

> [“The structure of the book is the same as the basic investment process that we advocate: Develop a set of investing principles, understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-dorsey/the-structure-of-the-book-is-the-same-as-the-basic-investment-process/)

Pat Dorsey

> [Individuals who cannot master their emotions are ill-suited to profit from the investment process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/individuals-who-cannot-master-their-emotions-are-ill-suited-to-profit/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

> [While knowing how to value businesses is essential for investment success, the first and perhaps most important step in the investment process is knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/while-knowing-how-to-value-businesses-is-essential-for-investment/)

[Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/)

> [Beneficent spirals, operating by benign feedback, mean that everything needful is not required at once: each individual improvement is beneficial for the whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/beneficent-spirals-operating-by-benign-feedback-mean-that-everything/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [Acid wasn't getting a whole lot of bad press at the time, and as I saw the whole bad-press thing happen, I became aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/acid-wasn-t-getting-a-whole-lot-of-bad-press-at-the-time-and-as-i-saw/)

[Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/)

> [Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/every-single-empire-in-its-official-discourse-has-said-that-it-is-not/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [Cultural institutions by and large share one primary objective: herd control. Even when ostensibly benign, their propensity for manipulation, compartmentalization, standardization and suppression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/cultural-institutions-by-and-large-share-one-primary-objective-herd/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Fame is indeed beautiful and benign and gentle and satisfying, but happiness is something at once tender and brilliant beyond all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/fame-is-indeed-beautiful-and-benign-and-gentle-and-satisfying-but/)

[Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/)

> [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/)

[Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/)

> [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/)

[Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/)

> [The plausible outcomes range from the gradual and benign to the more precipitous and damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/the-plausible-outcomes-range-from-the-gradual-and-benign-to-the-more/)

[Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/)

## More by Warren Buffett

> [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [It is better to point out your own mistakes than have somebody else do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-is-better-to-point-out-your-own-mistakes-than-have-somebody-else/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [I was lucky enough to be born in a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-born-in-a-time-and-place-where-society/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [What you really want to do in investments is figure out what's important and knowable. If it's unimportant or unknowable you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-you-really-want-to-do-in-investments-is-figure-out-what-s/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [I don't measure my life by the money I've made. Other people might, but certainly don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-measure-my-life-by-the-money-i-ve-made-other-people-might-but/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-the-truth-is-i-ve-never-had-it-so-good-in-terms-of-taxes-i-am/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-quality-for-an-investor-is-temperament-not/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

[Explore all 984 Warren Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

## More Benign quotes

> [The plausible outcomes range from the gradual and benign to the more precipitous and damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/the-plausible-outcomes-range-from-the-gradual-and-benign-to-the-more/)

[Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/)

> [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/)

[Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/)

> [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/)

[Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/)

> [Fame is indeed beautiful and benign and gentle and satisfying, but happiness is something at once tender and brilliant beyond all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/fame-is-indeed-beautiful-and-benign-and-gentle-and-satisfying-but/)

[Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/)

> [Cultural institutions by and large share one primary objective: herd control. Even when ostensibly benign, their propensity for manipulation, compartmentalization, standardization and suppression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/cultural-institutions-by-and-large-share-one-primary-objective-herd/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/every-single-empire-in-its-official-discourse-has-said-that-it-is-not/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [Acid wasn't getting a whole lot of bad press at the time, and as I saw the whole bad-press thing happen, I became aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/acid-wasn-t-getting-a-whole-lot-of-bad-press-at-the-time-and-as-i-saw/)

[Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/)

> [Beneficent spirals, operating by benign feedback, mean that everything needful is not required at once: each individual improvement is beneficial for the whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/beneficent-spirals-operating-by-benign-feedback-mean-that-everything/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [I looked up at the mass of signs and stars in the night sky and laid myself open for the first time to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-looked-up-at-the-mass-of-signs-and-stars-in-the-night-sky-and-laid/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Orders can be benign or malign, but the habit of obeying them can become ingrained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/orders-can-be-benign-or-malign-but-the-habit-of-obeying-them-can/)

[Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/)

> [Intelligence may indeed be a benign influence creating isolated groups of philosopher-kings far apart in the heavens... On the other hand, intelligence may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/intelligence-may-indeed-be-a-benign-influence-creating-isolated/)

[Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/)

> [Every major player is working on this technology of artificial intelligence. As of now, it's benign... but I would say that the day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bell/every-major-player-is-working-on-this-technology-of-artificial/)

[Ted Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bell/)

> [Of course, I prefer organic farming to chemical-dependent farming, but sometimes absolutist organic prescriptions go too far. I don't even rule out the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/of-course-i-prefer-organic-farming-to-chemical-dependent-farming-but/)

[Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/)

> [How do you survive living in a cell knowing you are innocent? Many of those exonerated whom I have met seem to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/how-do-you-survive-living-in-a-cell-knowing-you-are-innocent-many-of/)

[Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/)

> [Human nature has its fatal weaknesses, but 'love' means embracing the whole of human nature, the bad within the good, the benign within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/qiu-miaojin/human-nature-has-its-fatal-weaknesses-but-love-means-embracing-the/)

[Qiu Miaojin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/qiu-miaojin/)

Browse all 210 Benign quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Warren Buffett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remains-the-hallmark-of-our/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Benign"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remains-the-hallmark-of-our/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/warren-buffett-183_benign_benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remain_347835.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains the hallmark of our investment process.” — Warren Buffett",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Warren Buffett",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Benign neglect, bordering on sloth, remains...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remains-the-hallmark-of-our/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/benign-neglect-bordering-on-sloth-remains-the-hallmark-of-our/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
