When friends and acquaintances are telling you [that] you are a genius, before you accept their opinion, take a moment to remember what you always thought of their opinions in the past.
Carl IcahnRead
When most investors, including the pros, all agree on something, they're usually wrong.
Interpretation
Consensus among investors can often lead to poor decisions and bad outcomes.
This quote by Carl Icahn underscores the idea that when a majority of investors, even experienced professionals, reach a consensus on a particular investment strategy or opinion, it is often indicative of a misguided approach. The market is inherently unpredictable, and relying on common belief can lead to overlooking unique insights and opportunities that lie outside the norm.
In practice
During an investment conference when discussing market trends and predictions.
When friends and acquaintances are telling you [that] you are a genius, before you accept their opinion, take a moment to remember what you always thought of their opinions in the past.
CEOs are paid for doing a terrible job. If the system wasn't so messed up, guys like me wouldn't make this kind of money.
There are substantial rewards for adopting a regular routine of investing and following it no matter what, and additional rewards for buying more shares when most investors are scared into selling.
Investors should remember that excitement and expenses are their enemies. And if they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful.
There's no use diversifying into unknown companies just for the sake of diversity. A foolish diversity is the hobgoblin of small investors. That said, it isn't safe to own just one stock, because in spite of your best efforts, the one you choose might be the victim of unforeseen circumstances. In small portfolios, I'd be comfortable owning between three and ten stocks.
As I have said before, the daily machinations of the stock market are like a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Ultimately, nothing should be more important to investors than the ability to sleep soundly at night.
Invest at the point of maximum pessimism.
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