--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If knowing history made you rich…" description: "\"If knowing history made you rich, librarians would be billionaires.\" — Warren Buffett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png" --- # If knowing history made you rich, librarians would be… ![“If knowing history made you rich, librarians would be billionaires.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png) > “If knowing history made you rich, librarians would be billionaires.” [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. If understanding history yielded wealth, those who preserve it would be extremely rich, highlighting the undervaluation of knowledge custodians. **In simple terms:** History knowledge is valuable; librarians are underpaid. Key Takeaway Invest in learning from the past. Themes knowledge wealth valuation history libraries Mood reflective thoughtful critical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal finance - education policy - library funding - career advice Key Concepts Economic insight cultural preservation information economics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better reward knowledge keepers? - What practical steps can individuals take to learn from history? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all historical knowledge is directly monetizable, which may not be true. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) [Billionaires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaires/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarian/) [Librarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarians/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I really believe Slipknot's rich with history and rich with things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-crahan/i-really-believe-slipknot-s-rich-with-history-and-rich-with-things/) [Shawn Crahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-crahan/) > [New Orleans is thrilling. The history is as rich as the food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/new-orleans-is-thrilling-the-history-is-as-rich-as-the-food/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [The Republican Party's history is rich and chock full of emancipation and black history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-republican-party-s-history-is-rich-and-chock-full-of-emancipation/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I find the fact that billionaires are quoted as if the fact that they are billionaires gives them some kind of wisdom is outrageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/i-find-the-fact-that-billionaires-are-quoted-as-if-the-fact-that-they/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [Regardless of the overall state of the economy, there is now a large enough elite made up of new multi-millionaires and billionaires for Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/regardless-of-the-overall-state-of-the-economy-there-is-now-a-large/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [What kind of nation are we when we give tax breaks to billionaires, but we can't take care of the elderly and the children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-kind-of-nation-are-we-when-we-give-tax-breaks-to-billionaires/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Look at all the billionaires. If I know 15 billionaires, I know 13 unhappy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/look-at-all-the-billionaires-if-i-know-15-billionaires-i-know-13/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I think what the American people are saying is enough is enough. This country, this great country, belongs to all of us. It cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-think-what-the-american-people-are-saying-is-enough-is-enough-this/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Plot idea: 97% of the world's scientists contrive an environmental crisis, but are exposed by a plucky band of billionaires & oil companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/plot-idea-97-of-the-world-s-scientists-contrive-an-environmental/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [If you like easygoing, monogamous men, stay away from billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/if-you-like-easygoing-monogamous-men-stay-away-from-billionaires/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [If your parents are billionaires, that might actually be an obstacle to your own happiness and self-development. If you go to Oxford or Harvard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/if-your-parents-are-billionaires-that-might-actually-be-an-obstacle/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [I know a lot of people in the city, at all levels, horizontally and vertically - and that to me is a privilege, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-city-at-all-levels-horizontally-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [If I could set a world record, it would be that I have 150 business partners, all with thriving businesses of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-i-could-set-a-world-record-it-would-be-that-i-have-150-business/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) ## 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 Billionaire quotes > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“The candidate who billed himself as a billionaire—ten times over—refused even to invest his own money in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-candidate-who-billed-himself-as-a-billionaire-ten-times-over/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If I could set a world record, it would be that I have 150 business partners, all with thriving businesses of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-i-could-set-a-world-record-it-would-be-that-i-have-150-business/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [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/) > [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The biggest risk is not taking any risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-biggest-risk-is-not-taking-any-risk/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Message to the billionaire class: You can't have it all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/message-to-the-billionaire-class-you-can-t-have-it-all/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Every decision I make is, 'How is this helping me become a billionaire?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/every-decision-i-make-is-how-is-this-helping-me-become-a-billionaire/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [“A Debt Problem Is, At Its Core, a Budgeting Problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-pace/a-debt-problem-is-at-its-core-a-budgeting-problem/) [Natalie Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-pace/) > ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I know a lot of people in the city, at all levels, horizontally and vertically - and that to me is a privilege, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-city-at-all-levels-horizontally-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) [Browse all 356 Billionaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If knowing history made you rich, librarians would be billionaires.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librarians-would-be-billionaires/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billionaire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librarians-would-be-billionaires/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/warren-buffett-183_billionaire_if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librari_2485702.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If knowing history made you rich, librarians would be billionaires.” — 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": "If knowing history made you rich,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librarians-would-be-billionaires/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-knowing-history-made-you-rich-librarians-would-be-billionaires/#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 } } ] } ```