--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the world couldn't see your results…" description: "\"If the world couldn't see your results, would you rather be thought of as the world's greatest investor but in reality have the world's worst record? O..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/warren-buffett-183_ifs_if-the-world-couldn-t-see-your-results-w_573881.png" --- # If the world couldn't see your results, would you rather… ![“If the world couldn't see your results, would you rather be thought of as the world's greatest investor but in reality have the world's worst record? Or be thought of as the world's worst investor when you were actually the best?” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/warren-buffett-183_ifs_if-the-world-couldn-t-see-your-results-w_573881.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/warren-buffett-183_ifs_if-the-world-couldn-t-see-your-results-w_573881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/warren-buffett-183_ifs_if-the-world-couldn-t-see-your-results-w_573881.png) > “If the world couldn't see your results, would you rather be thought of as the world's greatest investor but in reality have the world's worst record? Or be thought of as the world's worst investor when you were actually the best?” [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. It questions whether reputation should be based on visible outcomes or hidden performance, highlighting the paradox of perception versus reality. **In simple terms:** Reputation can be misleading if results aren't visible. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine results over image. Themes reputation perception performance integrity Mood thoughtful analytical cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - investment decisions - career advancement - personal branding - leadership - public speaking Key Concepts behavioral economics cognitive bias truthfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your work is judged by its real impact? - What steps can you take to align perception with reality? A Different Perspective Perception can be distorted by selective information, making it hard to assess true merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatest Investor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-investor-4730012/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investor Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investor-actually-864144/) [Investor Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investor-reality-4730013/) [Investors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investors/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Results Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results-thought-2033775/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Investor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-investor-3944424/) ## Related quotes > [An active investor is someone who actually lives off their investments as opposed to wages from a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/an-active-investor-is-someone-who-actually-lives-off-their/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [If your investments are limited to this earth, you are the world's worst investor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/if-your-investments-are-limited-to-this-earth-you-are-the-world-s/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [It may almost be a question whether such wisdom as many of us have in our mature years has not come from the dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-may-almost-be-a-question-whether-such-wisdom-as-many-of-us-have-in/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [All action results from thought, so it is thoughts that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-baba/all-action-results-from-thought-so-it-is-thoughts-that-matter/) [Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-baba/) > [Investors... can't pick stocks that are better than average. Stocks are a good thing to own over time. There's only two things you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-can-t-pick-stocks-that-are-better-than-average-stocks-are-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [By periodically investing in an index fund, the know-nothing investors can actually outperform most investment professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/by-periodically-investing-in-an-index-fund-the-know-nothing-investors/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [So smile when you read a headline that says "Investors lose as market falls." Edit it in your mind to "Disinvestors lose as market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/so-smile-when-you-read-a-headline-that-says-investors-lose-as-market/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Too often, executive compensation in the U.S. is ridiculously out of line with performance. That won't change, moreover, because the deck is stacked against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/too-often-executive-compensation-in-the-u-s-is-ridiculously-out-of/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I have worked with investors for 60 years and I have yet to see anyone - not even when capital gains rates were 39.9…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-have-worked-with-investors-for-60-years-and-i-have-yet-to-see/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing so wide diversification is only required when investors are ignorant. You only have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/risk-comes-from-not-knowing-what-you-are-doing-so-wide/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Never count on making a good sale. Have the purchase price be so attractive that even a mediocre sale gives good results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/never-count-on-making-a-good-sale-have-the-purchase-price-be-so/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Most investors, both institutional and individual, will find that the best way to own common stocks (shares') is through an index fund that charges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/most-investors-both-institutional-and-individual-will-find-that-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/do-not-save-what-is-left-after-spending-but-spend-what-is-left-after/) [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Ifs quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. 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