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

KENDOZA replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"Sign xerri and tago straight away."
28 seconds ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Found Jenkins? He went to Newcastle from Penrith and did nothing, they gave him a lifeline to come back and works in the Penrith system. Take him out and see how he is."
1 minute ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"I disagree, just got better from a better opponent. If our conditioning was that bad we lose to Brisbane and St. George, you aren't being a 2nd half team if conditioning is bad."
3 minutes ago
EA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Mataele started today in NSW Cuo whilst Brown was on the bench"
4 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Its only rd 4 plenty of footy left. We are 2-2 but things can change with a win easter monday"
4 minutes ago
EA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Has Paulo lost all his ability. No offload or playmaking at all this year."
5 minutes ago
The Captain replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"That's even worse for us then LB because Melbourne put 50 on us. So we're even further back.
FWIW I agree with you. The Panthers look as strong as ever and a touch above even the Storm at this point."
5 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"I wouldn't say Melbourne just yet. Penrith then day light, everyone making up numbers. But even though Warriors lost to Wests, i think they are top 4, Brisbane also show the grit."
7 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Wests look mighty good, unfortunate since i despise them as a club. But even with Joash they are gettable. Teams aren't great backing up post Penrith but Wests also may have had their GF too and come in cocky."
8 minutes ago
EA replied to EA's discussion Line Up next week
"lol"
9 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Brown might not quite be ready but could be a chance for him to impress. Mataele seems so far down the order that Ryda Talagi would get a look in first.
We should try and work a deal for a middle. Hell, Fotuaika has been benched for GC, try and get…"
9 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Its not the coaching but its the recruits. When kearney was here we struggled to attract a top line player we signed a heap of has beens. We went ok last year but have these other players reached there ceiling and won't get any better? As a club we…"
10 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Wests, Gold Coast, Canterbury and Manly in next month. Three at Commbank and one at Brooky. We should come away 2-2, even better 3-1 can be doable."
12 minutes ago
LB replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"Ryley getting hooked will be fascinating to see what happens moving forward. Da Silva was ok, i mean conceading 48 points not many players would be 5/10 but Da Silva, other than looking gassed with 15 to go, was fine. But you are right Mannah, Smith…"
14 minutes ago
KENDOZA replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"I seen that. But thats on him they are his recruits.for me i don't understand how buckets or rodgers have a job. Look at tigers and dragons both were a mess yet they have no issue in getting recruits. Ffs until we get a decent footy manager and…"
16 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Hell On Eels's discussion Game Day Blog R4 vs Panthers: Disrupt the Disruptors? (FINAL TEAMS IN)
"It's not that we look poorly coached. It's that we lack the class we need to compete. Personally I've had enough of sort of competing. "
17 minutes 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: 2246

 

The "want"

Its not in the who, the why, or the how its in the want. How can  It take 2 front rowers and a large hooker to put down a winger its in the want. How can a so so 2nd rower run thru 3 first up tacklers , side step a 5/8 and get a pass away, its in…

Read more…
2 Replies · Reply by Yeah Man 2 hours ago
Views: 285

Ragged dolled every week?

It seems to be boys V men entry week watching Parra play. We simply have been ragdolled every week. We have skill with the ball but are always chasing given we are on the back foot.Does the Centre of Excellence have a weights room ... we look weak…

Read more…
7 Replies · Reply by Coryn Hughes 1 hour ago
Views: 325

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