--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's got to be the best intellectual…" description: "\"It's got to be the best intellectual exercise out there. You're seeing through new situations every ten minutes. In the stock market you don't base you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png" --- # It's got to be the best intellectual exercise out there… ![“It's got to be the best intellectual exercise out there. You're seeing through new situations every ten minutes. In the stock market you don't base your decisions on what the market is doing, but on what you think is rational. Bridge is about weighing gain/loss ratios. You're doing calculations…” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png) > “It's got to be the best intellectual exercise out there. You're seeing through new situations every ten minutes. In the stock market you don't base your decisions on what the market is doing, but on what you think is rational. Bridge is about weighing gain/loss ratios. You're doing calculations all the time.” [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. The quote stresses rational, independent decision‑making in investing, focusing on personal analysis rather than market trends. **In simple terms:** Make rational, independent investment decisions. Key Takeaway Think for yourself in investing. Themes investing rationality independence Mood analytical strategic Type financial philosophical When to use this quote - stock trading - portfolio management - financial planning - risk evaluation Key Concepts risk assessment decision theory behavioral finance Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay objective under market pressure? - What rational criteria guide your investments? A Different Perspective It may underestimate market influence on rational choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [New situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-situations/) [Stock market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stock-market/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Feelings take you into uncharted territory from time to time it's true, but you almost always benefit from the journey one way or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/feelings-take-you-into-uncharted-territory-from-time-to-time-it-s/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [“The inconsistencies that haunt our relationships with animals also result from the quirks of human cognition. We like to think of ourselves as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-herzog/the-inconsistencies-that-haunt-our-relationships-with-animals-also/) Hal Herzog > [If we had a better understanding of the ways we think about enemies, we might be able to think of more rational ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/if-we-had-a-better-understanding-of-the-ways-we-think-about-enemies/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [We think, each of us, that we're much more rational than we are. And we think that we make our decisions because we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/we-think-each-of-us-that-we-re-much-more-rational-than-we-are-and-we/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [I think it's rational to assume the best in other people because most people are pretty decent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-it-s-rational-to-assume-the-best-in-other-people-because-most/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [To me, the question of inspiration is an exercise in hindsight. The truth is, inspiration is mysterious at the time. I don't think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/to-me-the-question-of-inspiration-is-an-exercise-in-hindsight-the/) [Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/) > [If men will permit themselves to think, as rational beings ought to think, nothing can appear more ridiculous and absurd, exclusive of all moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-men-will-permit-themselves-to-think-as-rational-beings-ought-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Humans think they are rational, and they think they understand their reality. But they are wrong on both counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/humans-think-they-are-rational-and-they-think-they-understand-their/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Think for yourself along rational lines. Hypothesize, test against the evidence, never accept that a question has been answered as well as it ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/think-for-yourself-along-rational-lines-hypothesize-test-against-the/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [The banking business is no favorite of ours. When assets are twenty times equity - a common ratio in this industry - mistakes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-banking-business-is-no-favorite-of-ours-when-assets-are-twenty/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Can you know you can have institutions that put curbs on that in various ways, and actually what the banks, you know, they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/can-you-know-you-can-have-institutions-that-put-curbs-on-that-in/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [To set aside one’s prejudices, one’s present needs, and one’s own self interest in making a decision as a director for a company is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-king/to-set-aside-one-s-prejudices-one-s-present-needs-and-one-s-own-self/) [Mervyn King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-king/) > [Focused intensity is required to win. I can't stress enough that people who took control of their finances and worked their way out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ramsey/focused-intensity-is-required-to-win-i-can-t-stress-enough-that/) David Ramsey > [Debating is not an honest intellectual exercise. It's like a trial in which the goal is not to get to the truth but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/debating-is-not-an-honest-intellectual-exercise-it-s-like-a-trial-in/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [“I racked my brains to discover some sense in the events I had witnessed. I needed this intellectual exercise to escape from the despair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-boulle/i-racked-my-brains-to-discover-some-sense-in-the-events-i-had/) [Pierre Boulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-boulle/) ## 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 Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [There's no guarantee for the future; might as well be HAPPY now, and give my BEST in everything I do! In that way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/there-s-no-guarantee-for-the-future-might-as-well-be-happy-now-and/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [I am not impressed with what people own. But I’m impressed with what they achieve. I’m proud to be a physician. Always strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/i-am-not-impressed-with-what-people-own-but-i-m-impressed-with-what/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My role is to think about tennis and to help Serena Williams be the best she can be and do what she wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/my-role-is-to-think-about-tennis-and-to-help-serena-williams-be-the/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [One of my mom's best lines is... You're not training to be the best in the world, you're training to be the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/one-of-my-mom-s-best-lines-is-you-re-not-training-to-be-the-best-in/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Every day the sun rises is a new day to be your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-vargas/every-day-the-sun-rises-is-a-new-day-to-be-your-best/) [Anthony Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-vargas/) [Browse all 1,358 Being the best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's got to be the best intellectual exercise out there. You're seeing through new situations every ten minutes. In the stock market you don't base your decisions on what the market is doing, but on what you think is rational. Bridge is about weighing gain/loss ratios. You're doing calculations all the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exercise-out-there-you-re-seeing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being the best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exercise-out-there-you-re-seeing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/warren-buffett-183_being-the-best_it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exe_2454539.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's got to be the best intellectual exercise out there. You're seeing through new situations every ten…” — 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": "It's got to be the best...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exercise-out-there-you-re-seeing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-got-to-be-the-best-intellectual-exercise-out-there-you-re-seeing/#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 } } ] } ```