--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't get paid for being busy, we get…" description: "\"We don't get paid for being busy, we get paid for being right.\" — Warren Buffett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png" --- # We don't get paid for being busy, we get paid for being… ![“We don't get paid for being busy, we get paid for being right.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png) > “We don't get paid for being busy, we get paid for being right.” [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. Value lies in making correct decisions, not merely staying busy. **In simple terms:** Being right matters more than being busy. Key Takeaway Prioritize effective decisions over busyness. Themes productivity decision-making efficiency Mood analytical motivational Type business philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - investment - project management - personal goals Key Concepts strategic thinking value creation Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly move you toward your goals? - How can you measure the impact of your decisions? A Different Perspective Busy work can give a sense of progress without real results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-busy/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-paid-1559563/) [Don Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-paid-1007959/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Paid Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-busy-1559562/) [Paid Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-right-780670/) ## Related quotes > [“I don’t get paid to be nice. I get paid to be right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-griffin/i-don-t-get-paid-to-be-nice-i-get-paid-to-be-right/) [R.L. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-griffin/) > [As soon as I finish a job, I'm like, 'Geez, I got away with that, and I got paid all right!' But then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/as-soon-as-i-finish-a-job-i-m-like-geez-i-got-away-with-that-and-i/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [There wasn't a rich father or rich family that paid for everything that I have right now, so I worked my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marat-safin/there-wasn-t-a-rich-father-or-rich-family-that-paid-for-everything/) [Marat Safin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marat-safin/) > [I want to be paid fairly for the work that I'm doing. That's what every single woman around the world wants. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-want-to-be-paid-fairly-for-the-work-that-i-m-doing-that-s-what/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [The resurrection was God's way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-resurrection-was-god-s-way-of-stamping-paid-in-full-right-across/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I'm not getting paid right now. No pay, no critique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cojocaru/i-m-not-getting-paid-right-now-no-pay-no-critique/) [Steven Cojocaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cojocaru/) > [Now younger actresses will have a confidence in those discussions with their agents and be able to say, "Can we make sure that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/now-younger-actresses-will-have-a-confidence-in-those-discussions/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [I keep myself busy with the things to do but every time I pause I still think of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-keep-myself-busy-with-the-things-to-do-but-every-time-i-pause-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's like I'm busy being happy and you're busy bringing me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-like-i-m-busy-being-happy-and-you-re-busy-bringing-me-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life's what happens when you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-s-what-happens-when-you-re-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Being busy with work, and as a mum, I'm a big fan of online shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/being-busy-with-work-and-as-a-mum-i-m-a-big-fan-of-online-shopping/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [It's possible to be busy but not effective. Everyone's often busy, but few are effective. The effective are, the successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/it-s-possible-to-be-busy-but-not-effective-everyone-s-often-busy-but/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) ## 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 busy quotes > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [It's possible to be busy but not effective. Everyone's often busy, but few are effective. The effective are, the successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/it-s-possible-to-be-busy-but-not-effective-everyone-s-often-busy-but/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [Don't mistake movement for achievement. It's easy to get faked out by being busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/don-t-mistake-movement-for-achievement-it-s-easy-to-get-faked-out-by/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The irony is that we are busy doing many things that don't matter and we have no time for things that do. Shouldnt we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irony-is-that-we-are-busy-doing-many-things-that-don-t-matter-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being busy with work, and as a mum, I'm a big fan of online shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/being-busy-with-work-and-as-a-mum-i-m-a-big-fan-of-online-shopping/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [Pretending that you're very busy talking over phone when you see someone you want to avoid or don't want to talk to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghav-singh/pretending-that-you-re-very-busy-talking-over-phone-when-you-see/) [Raghav Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghav-singh/) > [Life's what happens when you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-s-what-happens-when-you-re-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [It's like I'm busy being happy and you're busy bringing me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-like-i-m-busy-being-happy-and-you-re-busy-bringing-me-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I keep myself busy with the things to do but every time I pause I still think of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-keep-myself-busy-with-the-things-to-do-but-every-time-i-pause-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being busy is not an excuse for you to live an unhealthy life. Plan your time wisely. Make time for working out & other activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-busy-is-not-an-excuse-for-you-to-live-an-unhealthy-life-plan/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is despite the hard work and juggling required to keep the different facets of the frantic life afloat, the "superwoman"has one marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettina-arndt/the-truth-is-despite-the-hard-work-and-juggling-required-to-keep-the/) [Bettina Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettina-arndt/) > [Then get busy and find out how to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/then-get-busy-and-find-out-how-to-do-it/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The truth is that's always when it's the most fun, when you're able to just be wherever you are, be whatever scene it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-rabe/the-truth-is-that-s-always-when-it-s-the-most-fun-when-you-re-able-to/) [Lily Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-rabe/) [Browse all 107 Being busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We don't get paid for being busy, we get paid for being right.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get-paid-for-being-right/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get-paid-for-being-right/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/warren-buffett-183_being-busy_we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get_2555671.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We don't get paid for being busy, we get paid for being right.” — 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": "We don't get paid for being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get-paid-for-being-right/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-don-t-get-paid-for-being-busy-we-get-paid-for-being-right/#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 } } ] } ```