--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've long felt that the only value of…" description: "\"We've long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good. Even now, Charlie and I continue to believe that short-t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/warren-buffett-183_behave_we-ve-long-felt-that-the-only-value-of-s_736482.jpg" --- # We've long felt that the only value of stock forecasters… ![“We've long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good. Even now, Charlie and I continue to believe that short-term market forecasts are poison and should be kept locked up in a safe place, away from children and also from grown-ups who behave in the market…” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/warren-buffett-183_behave_we-ve-long-felt-that-the-only-value-of-s_736482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/warren-buffett-183_behave_we-ve-long-felt-that-the-only-value-of-s_736482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/warren-buffett-183_behave_we-ve-long-felt-that-the-only-value-of-s_736482.jpg) > “We've long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good. Even now, Charlie and I continue to believe that short-term market forecasts are poison and should be kept locked up in a safe place, away from children and also from grown-ups who behave in the market like children.” [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. Short‑term market predictions are dangerous and should be hidden from both children and reckless adults. **In simple terms:** Short‑term forecasts are harmful and best kept away from immature investors. Key Takeaway Avoid relying on short‑term forecasts for decisions. Themes finance risk investment ethics Mood cautious critical pragmatic Type financial advice When to use this quote - investment decision making - financial education - risk management - regulatory policy Key Concepts forecasting risk behavioral finance Questions to Reflect On - Should investors completely ignore short‑term signals? - How to balance long‑term goals with short‑term market noise? A Different Perspective Some may argue that short‑term data can be useful for certain strategies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-teller/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Market timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market-timing/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Safe place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-place/) [Safe places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-places/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [We have long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune-tellers look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-have-long-felt-that-the-only-value-of-stock-forecasters-is-to-make/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It is absurd to think that the general public can ever make money out of market forecasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/it-is-absurd-to-think-that-the-general-public-can-ever-make-money-out/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [We continue to make more money when snoring than when active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-continue-to-make-more-money-when-snoring-than-when-active/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Our stay-put behavior reflects our view that the stock market serves as a relocation center at which money is moved from the active to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/our-stay-put-behavior-reflects-our-view-that-the-stock-market-serves/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Forecasters tend to learn less and less about more and more, until in the end they know nothing about everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-fiedler/forecasters-tend-to-learn-less-and-less-about-more-and-more-until-in/) [Edgar Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-fiedler/) > [People have always had this craving to have someone tell them the future. Long ago, kings would hire people to read sheep guts. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/people-have-always-had-this-craving-to-have-someone-tell-them-the/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [A forecasting game is a kind of simulation, a kind of scenario, a kind of teleconference, a kind of artifact from the future -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/a-forecasting-game-is-a-kind-of-simulation-a-kind-of-scenario-a-kind/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [“Fuck the weather forecasters and their predictions. With magic, he’d just turned their Doppler radar upside down. Sapphire Phelan (Being Familiar With a Witch)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sapphire-phelan/fuck-the-weather-forecasters-and-their-predictions-with-magic-he-d/) Sapphire Phelan > [There are two kinds of forecasters: those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/there-are-two-kinds-of-forecasters-those-who-don-t-know-and-those-who/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [No weather forecaster can tell you for sure when to wear a rain slicker, stock up on canned goods, or evacuate a city that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/no-weather-forecaster-can-tell-you-for-sure-when-to-wear-a-rain/) [Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/) > [I'm not an economist and we all know economists were created to make weather forecasters look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-not-an-economist-and-we-all-know-economists-were-created-to-make/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Our present addiction to pollsters and forecasters is a symptom of our chronic uncertainty about the future... We watch our experts read the entrails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-present-addiction-to-pollsters-and-forecasters-is-a-symptom-of/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“mistakes subject to so discerning and public a post‐mortem as weather forecasters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-lovelock/mistakes-subject-to-so-discerning-and-public-a-post-mortem-as-weather/) [James E. Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-lovelock/) > [Using a forecasting company is like going to a fortune-teller. If you believe the company and the color does not sell, who do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-shoji/using-a-forecasting-company-is-like-going-to-a-fortune-teller-if-you/) [Tadashi Shoji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-shoji/) > [I'm an economist, I do a lot of forecasting, and I'm probably one of the most successful forecasters in terms of very specific kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-larouche/i-m-an-economist-i-do-a-lot-of-forecasting-and-i-m-probably-one-of/) [Lyndon LaRouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-larouche/) ## 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 Behave quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You can behave as badly as you like in America. Nobody notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/you-can-behave-as-badly-as-you-like-in-america-nobody-notices/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [Why does man behave like perfect idiot? This is the problem I wish to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/why-does-man-behave-like-perfect-idiot-this-is-the-problem-i-wish-to/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Most people, even in simple risky situations, don't behave the way the theory of utility would have them behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-raiffa/most-people-even-in-simple-risky-situations-don-t-behave-the-way-the/) [Howard Raiffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-raiffa/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [What astonishes many of us is not so much that human nature is fundamentally corrupt; we are astonished rather that it does not behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-irving-seiden/what-astonishes-many-of-us-is-not-so-much-that-human-nature-is/) Morton Irving Seiden > [Do we behave out of fear of punishment, or out of the demands of our heart? For me, it is the latter, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-we-behave-out-of-fear-of-punishment-or-out-of-the-demands-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) Browse all 1,587 Behave quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good. 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