---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather sustain the penalties…"
description: "\"I would rather sustain the penalties resulting from over-conservatism than face the consequences of error, perhaps with permanent capital loss, resulti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg"
---

#  I would rather sustain the penalties resulting from…

![“I would rather sustain the penalties resulting from over-conservatism than face the consequences of error, perhaps with permanent capital loss, resulting from the adoption of &quot;New Era&quot; philosophy where trees really do grow to the sky.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg)

> “I would rather sustain the penalties resulting from over-conservatism than face the consequences of error, perhaps with permanent capital loss, resulting from the adoption of "New Era" philosophy where trees really do grow to the sky.”

[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.

Conservatism in investing may be safer than reckless risk‑taking, even if it limits upside.

**In simple terms:** Play it safe rather than chase risky trends.

Key Takeaway

Prefer cautious strategies.

Themes

investment risk management conservatism financial planning

Mood

pragmatic cautious analytical

Type

financial advisory

When to use this quote

- portfolio review
- retirement planning
- market analysis
- risk assessment

Key Concepts

value investing risk aversion capital preservation

Questions to Reflect On

- How much risk is acceptable for your goals?
- What safeguards protect against large losses?

A Different Perspective

Over‑caution can lead to missed opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adoption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences/) [Conservatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatism/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [New era](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-era/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/)

## Related quotes

> [It is a tenet of my investment style that, on the subject of common stock investment, maximizing the upside means first and foremost minimizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-burry/it-is-a-tenet-of-my-investment-style-that-on-the-subject-of-common/)

[Michael Burry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-burry/)

> [We rarely use much debt and, when we do, we attempt to structure it on a long-term fixed rate basis. We will reject interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-rarely-use-much-debt-and-when-we-do-we-attempt-to-structure-it-on/)

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

> [It is unquestionably true that the investment companies have their money more conventionally invested than we do. To many people conventionality is indistinguishable from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-is-unquestionably-true-that-the-investment-companies-have-their/)

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

> [We have agreed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cease all acts of violence against the Israelis and against the Palestinians wherever they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abbas/we-have-agreed-with-prime-minister-ariel-sharon-to-cease-all-acts-of/)

[Mahmoud Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abbas/)

> [I'm keen to do as little or as much reading and watching as the director may advise, and often off that you kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-law/i-m-keen-to-do-as-little-or-as-much-reading-and-watching-as-the/)

[Jude Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-law/)

> [The lure of heady profits of the late 1990's spawned abuses and excesses. With strict enforcement and higher ethical standards, we must usher in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-lure-of-heady-profits-of-the-late-1990-s-spawned-abuses-and/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [But we must admit the possibility that continued investigation and experience will bring us ever nearer to that solemn moment, when the first man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-lilienthal/but-we-must-admit-the-possibility-that-continued-investigation-and/)

[Otto Lilienthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-lilienthal/)

> [The most powerful influence exercised by the Arabs on general natural physics was that directed to the advances of chemistry ; a science for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/the-most-powerful-influence-exercised-by-the-arabs-on-general-natural/)

[Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/)

> [The tech world is not a new phenomenon; it's a new era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/the-tech-world-is-not-a-new-phenomenon-it-s-a-new-era/)

[Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/)

> [Using less of the Earth’s resources more efficiently and productively in a circular economy and making the transition from carbon-based fuels to renewable energies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/using-less-of-the-earth-s-resources-more-efficiently-and-productively/)

[Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/)

> [Hillary Clinton represents staunch feminists, she represents the new era of feminists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/hillary-clinton-represents-staunch-feminists-she-represents-the-new/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I tried to go to Kosovo to establish a statue to commemorate those who died during the wars, and to discuss moving on, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-dacic/i-tried-to-go-to-kosovo-to-establish-a-statue-to-commemorate-those/)

[Ivica Dacic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-dacic/)

> [You say a new era in art is preparing; you sensed it coming; continue your studies without weakening. God will do the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/you-say-a-new-era-in-art-is-preparing-you-sensed-it-coming-continue/)

[Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/)

> [This is a whole new era where we're moving beyond little edits on single genes to being able to write whatever we want throughout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-m-church/this-is-a-whole-new-era-where-we-re-moving-beyond-little-edits-on/)

[George M. Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-m-church/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## 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 Adoption quotes

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

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

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/)

[Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/)

> [I have a lot of respect for my birth mother I know she must have had a lot of love for me to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-my-birth-mother-i-know-she-must-have-had/)

[Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/)

> [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/)

[Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/)

> [“Some adventures should never be repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-l-hopper/some-adventures-should-never-be-repeated/)

Mike L. Hopper

> [Some women just skip having babies or adopt because they don't want to get fat or they haven't put in the time to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-pressly/some-women-just-skip-having-babies-or-adopt-because-they-don-t-want/)

[Jaime Pressly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-pressly/)

> [“I love Russia because Russia gave me you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-simmons/i-love-russia-because-russia-gave-me-you/)

John M. Simmons

> [I've never been keen on open adoption. It doesn't seem to solve the main problem with adoption, which is that somebody feels she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-ve-never-been-keen-on-open-adoption-it-doesn-t-seem-to-solve-the/)

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

> [“Yes, I see why we endured infertility and a lengthy adoption process now, but I don’t know all the reasons for all the struggles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wells/yes-i-see-why-we-endured-infertility-and-a-lengthy-adoption-process/)

Ashley Wells

> [As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/as-we-grew-to-love-south-australia-we-felt-that-we-were-in-an/)

[Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/)

> [Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/every-great-movement-must-experience-three-stages-ridicule-discussion/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [With all the chaos, pain and suffering in the world, the fact that my adoption of a child from who was living in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/with-all-the-chaos-pain-and-suffering-in-the-world-the-fact-that-my/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [“The Friends Thou Hast And Their Adoption Tried Grapple Them To Thy Soul With Hooks Of Steel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-friends-thou-hast-and-their-adoption-tried-grapple-them-to-thy-2/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

[Browse all 560 Adoption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I would rather sustain the penalties resulting from over-conservatism than face the consequences of error, perhaps with permanent capital loss, resulting from the adoption of \"New Era\" philosophy where trees really do grow to the sky.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Warren Buffett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-resulting-from-over-conservatism/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adoption"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-resulting-from-over-conservatism/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/warren-buffett-183_adoption_i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-res_2810367.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I would rather sustain the penalties resulting from over-conservatism than face the consequences of error…” — 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": "I would rather sustain the penalties...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-resulting-from-over-conservatism/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-would-rather-sustain-the-penalties-resulting-from-over-conservatism/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
