--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take me as an example. I happen to have a…" description: "\"Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/warren-buffett-183_ability_take-me-as-an-example-i-happen-to-have-a_1225871.png" --- # Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for… ![“Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was born into. If I'd been born into a tribe of hunters, this talent of mine would be pretty worthless. I can't run very fast. I'm not particularly…” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/warren-buffett-183_ability_take-me-as-an-example-i-happen-to-have-a_1225871.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/warren-buffett-183_ability_take-me-as-an-example-i-happen-to-have-a_1225871.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/warren-buffett-183_ability_take-me-as-an-example-i-happen-to-have-a_1225871.png) > “Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was born into. If I'd been born into a tribe of hunters, this talent of mine would be pretty worthless. I can't run very fast. I'm not particularly strong. I'd probably end up as some wild animal's dinner.” [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. Talent is valuable only when the surrounding society lets you apply it; otherwise it may be useless. **In simple terms:** A skill's worth depends on context. Key Takeaway Align talents with societal opportunities. Themes talent society context opportunity inequality Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - investment decisions - policy design - education pathways - personal development Key Concepts human capital social structure environmental fit Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape the use of your abilities? - What can be done to mitigate mismatched contexts? A Different Perspective Even with talent, systemic barriers can prevent success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Capital Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital-ability-2959726/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Hunters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters/) [Hunters Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters-talent-2959725/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Allocating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-allocating-2363079/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-talent-394353/) [Wild animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-animal/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-happen-to-have-a-talent-for-allocating-capital-but-my-ability-to/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [A person's willingness to conform to arbitrary parameters is not a good criterion for selecting talent or allocating rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-tulgan/a-person-s-willingness-to-conform-to-arbitrary-parameters-is-not-a/) [Bruce Tulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-tulgan/) > [In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-a-civilized-and-cultivated-country-wild-animals-only-continue-to-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In a civilized and cultivated country wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen. the excellent people who protest against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-a-civilized-and-cultivated-country-wild-animals-only-continue-to/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In nothing does man, with his grand notions of heaven and charity, show forth his innate, low-bred, wild animalism more clearly than in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/in-nothing-does-man-with-his-grand-notions-of-heaven-and-charity-show/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The woods were made for the hunters of dreams, The brooks for the fishers of song; To the hunters who hunt for the gunless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walter-foss/the-woods-were-made-for-the-hunters-of-dreams-the-brooks-for-the/) [Sam Walter Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walter-foss/) > [Sometimes a person is to smart and they end up outsmarting them self, is a shame they use their own talent against them self !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/sometimes-a-person-is-to-smart-and-they-end-up-outsmarting-them-self/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [The essentials of leadership are all about the use of one's talent in the interests of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gobbo/the-essentials-of-leadership-are-all-about-the-use-of-one-s-talent-in/) [James Gobbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gobbo/) > [Use what talent you posses; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/use-what-talent-you-posses-the-woods-would-be-very-silent-if-no-birds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You’re ready to go out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-jo-jo-you-have-so-many-extraordinary-gifts-how-can-you-expect-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“a talent is something you use, not something that uses you. The talent you cannot not use, the talent that possesses you—that is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viet-thanh-nguyen/a-talent-is-something-you-use-not-something-that-uses-you-the-talent/) [Viet Thanh Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viet-thanh-nguyen/) > [The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-higher-your-energy-level-the-more-efficient-your-body-the-more/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The use of talent is far more important than the possession of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garson-kanin/the-use-of-talent-is-far-more-important-than-the-possession-of-talent/) [Garson Kanin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garson-kanin/) > [Getting up on stage and being able to make people feel like their lives are slightly more special than they realize is my only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/getting-up-on-stage-and-being-able-to-make-people-feel-like-their/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Take me as an example. 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