Investment Advice from an Old Bastard

I know a lot on here are interested in investment, inflation and interest rates, I was reading this today and the observations that Charlie Munger makes is something that many ....lets say older people feel with todays generation's and the ultimate advice they are given.

Take from it what you will but it is a good read regardless.

At 98-years-old, Charlie Munger still delivers the one-liners

Charlie Munger has been investing with Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway since 1978. While Warren hosts the company’s Annual Shareholder Meetings, answering questions for hours, it is Charlie who delivers the acerbic wit. Given his wealth and age, nobody and nothing is off limits, sometimes to Warren’s chagrin. It makes for fine entertainment when he is prepared to speak the truth that others avoid.

Charlie was born on 1 January 1924, and to mark his 98th birthday, some of his one-liners are collected on this video. As the introduction says:

“Charlie Munger isn't just one of the greatest investors who has ever lived, he is also one of the few brilliant minds who basically has no filter. When he sees something which he thinks is wrongdoing or stupid, he just can't help but being opinionated and speak up about it.”

Let ‘er rip, Charlie

“Those of you who are about to enter business school or are there, I recommend you learn to do it our way but at least until you're out of school, you have to pretend to do it their way.”

“Warren, if people weren't so often wrong, we wouldn't be so rich.”

“I think you would understand any presentation using the word EBITDA, if every time you saw that word, you just substituted the phrase ‘bullshit earnings’.”

“I'm optimistic about life. I can be optimistic when I’m nearly dead. Surely the rest of you can handle a little inflation.”

“The best way to get what you want in life is to deserve what you want. How could it be otherwise? It's not crazy enough so that the world is looking for a lot of undeserving people to reward.”

“Everybody wants fiscal virtue but not quite yet. They're like that guy who felt that way about sex. He’s willing to give it up but not quite yet.”

“Well, you don't want to be like the motion picture executive in California. They said the funeral was so large because everybody wanted to make sure he was dead.”

“It was investment banker-aided fraud. Not exactly novel.”

“Sure, there are a lot of things in life way more important than wealth. All that said, some people do get confused. I play golf with a man he says, ‘What good is health, you can't buy money with it.’"

“Well, there are a lot of things I don't think about and one of them is companies that are losing $2-3 billion a year and going public.”

“In accounting, you can do things like they do in Italy when they have trouble with the mail. It piles up and irritates the postal employees. They just throw away a few cartloads and everything flows smoothly.”

“The general system for money management requires people to pretend that they can do something that they can't do, and to pretend to like it when they really don't. I think that's a terrible way to spend your life, but it's very well paid.”

“I can't give you a formulaic approach because I don't use one. If you want a formula, you should go back to graduate school. They'll give you lots of formulas that won't work.”

“As Samuel Johnson said famously, ‘I can give you an argument, but I can't give you an understanding.’"

“It's perfectly obvious, at least to me, that to say that derivative accounting in America is a sewer is an insult to sewage.”

“Competency is a relative concept. And what a lot of us need, including the one speaking when I needed to get ahead, was to compete against idiots. And luckily, there's a large supply."

“I don't like multi-tasking. I see these people doing three things at once and I think, what a terrible way that is to think.”

“I like cryptocurrency currencies a lot less than you do. And I think that professional traders who go into trading cryptocurrencies, it's just disgusting. It's like somebody else is trading turds and you decide ‘I can't be left out.'"

“Once I asked a man who just left a large investment bank and I said, ‘How's your firm make its money?’ He said, 'Off the top, off the bottom, off both sides and in the middle.'"

“Well, I would rather throw a viper down my shirt front than hire a compensation consultant.”

“I think I'm offended enough.”

 

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

                  • You guys seen the old Fryers Club Roasts?

                  • She features in the roast that Krupty put up....legend comedian that everyone wanted to take the piss out of.

            • We know what drum you hold the beat to when you go to bed at night Seth.LOL

              I always remember Ava Gardner being interviewed after the film made in Mellbourne, "On the Beach" in 1959.....I was quiet young then so I must have read in a later book.....but her quote always stuck in my mind when she said if the end of the world was going to happen it would be most appropriately Melbourne, implying it was the arsehole of the world!

          • Thanks Pops I will put them on my watch list.I like historical war  films. This one is interesting Munich The Edge of War. The politics of war  and deception

             

        • Thought you would enjoy it Tad,

          I also stuffed the rest of the post trying to correct the date from 1983 to 1883 an old style western prequell to Kevin Costner's Yellowstone. Stars Sam Elliott.

          Also recommend Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos (Kidman) is brilliant in it.

          Finally another show I really enjoyed was "Finch" a Tom hanks film about a guy dying and building a robot to look after his dog.....I cried unashamably at the end............. I read a review that said it lacked originality LOL

  • Charlie and Warren are legends, No doubt. From 1964 to 2020, Berkshire's stock delivered a compound annual growth rate of 20%. In comparison, the S&P 500 Index generated an annualized gain of 10.2% -- including dividends.

     Things are changing rapidly. If someone bragged they made 20% pa to the average Defi Degen they would be pretty unimpressed. That represents an OK week for the competent.

This reply was deleted.

Latest comments

Parra_Greg replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"We are a club no talented player wants to come too.  Further there are major structural problems with the NRL whereby all the talent cycles between 3-4 clubs.   The game is getting worse its now almost 10 years and only three clubs sre featured…"
11 minutes ago
Parra_Greg replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"Rest Well Neville.  He was was prototype that Eric Grothe Snr was to follow.  I dont think he gets enough due for that...."
23 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"Do you think Mitch Lewis should be sacked immediately? 
They have only lost 1 game (flogged), had a draw against the worst team and yet their wins have been pretty good ones. 
Is there too much chopping and changing just because of the number of…"
26 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Eels2025's discussion Anyone else feel like this week against Tigers is make or break?
"JC Its not quiet like that, in its day Union was every bit as big as League, mainly through its much deeper International Flavour. The rules of the game have changed it hugely in Australia where we always had the League alternative, the Europeans…"
45 minutes ago
Kurupt - Your Mums Favourite Thug replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"🙏"
51 minutes ago
Coryn Hughes replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"I mention attitude because it's an individual thing these coaches can't coach that it has to be driven from within an individual or led from the front by the alpha of the pack.
We've been missing that individual that leads in certain parts of the…"
59 minutes ago
Poppa replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"One of my favourite players.....he was truly a great winger, given Eric Senior, Semi and now JAC I think Nifty gets a top 5 placing as a winger in Parra history. Keep in mind those first 3 probably sit in the top 10 in the history of the game.
I was…"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"Rest in peace champion 💙💙💛💙💛💙💛💛"
1 hour ago
Mallee57 replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"That's sad 😔 "
2 hours ago
JC replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"Nifty always hung around the club on game day at commbank, always willing to have a chat, and also let people know who he was lol.
Unfortunately he will always be remembered for dropping that pass in the 76 grand final loss to manly 13-10. The pass…"
2 hours ago
Priceforever replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"When we talk about great eels wingers people forget what a great winger Neville was. RIP Neville"
2 hours ago
Muttman’s discussion was featured
Former Parramatta Eels winger Neville “Nifty” Glover has died aged 70.  He played 121 games for Parramatta and 13 for Penrith between 1975–1983, scoring 59 tries, and represented both NSW and Australia in 1978.  Glover was a highly regarded winger…
2 hours ago
Parra fan on The Hill replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"You are right. Just don't buy or wait for a bargain."
2 hours ago
Parra fan on The Hill replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"RIP legend.  Sincerest condolences to his family. Nifty was a great servant to Parra, NSW, Australia and society through his police work. 
I enjoyed listening to his insight on the Cumberland Throw podcasts years gone by. No one was more Parra than…"
2 hours ago
The Badger replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐's discussion Club Statement
"They should make a statement about why they are flogging ANZAC jerseys for almost $200 when people are lucky to fill the tank and feed their family.
NRL = Neverending Rip-off League"
3 hours ago
The Badger replied to Muttman's discussion Vale Neville Glover
"Had a few beers at parties with Nifty way back in the day. I  played some footy with his brothers. 
RIP bloke."
3 hours ago
More…

Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2265

 

Vale Neville Glover

Former Parramatta Eels winger Neville “Nifty” Glover has died aged 70.  He played 121 games for Parramatta and 13 for Penrith between 1975–1983, scoring 59 tries, and represented both NSW and Australia in 1978.  Glover was a highly regarded winger…

Read more…
10 Replies · Reply by Parra_Greg 23 minutes ago
Views: 332

An idea

Wondering last night and what people thought, imo walker is most effective off the bench, can we start ryley at 13 and talyn at 9 with walker on the bench, then you bring in walker to lock, ryley to 9 and talyn to the bench for a break?

Read more…
3 Replies · Reply by LB on Tuesday
Views: 372

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>