‘Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up’—Charlie Munger’s timeless wisdom to inspire you

The former vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and the right hand of Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, was far more than a senior executive in one of Wall Street’s most iconic companies. He was Buffett’s trusted confidant, a man of sharp intellect and a guiding force behind the firm’s long-term success.

On November 28, 2023, Charlie died, but while the world lost one of its greatest investors and thinkers, his wisdom continue to shape minds and motivate generations.

Have a look at some of the Charlie Munger’s quotes:

1. On Power of Reading

“In my whole life, I have known no wise people who did not read all the time — none, zero. You would be amased at how much Warren reads—and at how much I read. My children laugh at me. They think I’m a book with a couple of legs sticking out.”

2. On Daily Progress

“Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up. Day by day, and at the end of the day — if you live long enough — like most people, you will get out of life what you deserve.”

3. On Deserving Success

“To get what you want, you have to deserve what you want. The world is not yet a crazy enough place to reward a whole bunch of undeserving people.”

4. On Relationships

“How to find a good spouse? The best single way is to deserve a good spouse.”

5. On Making Time to Think

“We both (Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett) insist on a lot of time being available almost every day to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. We read and think.”

6. On Learning from History

“There is no better teacher than history in determining the future… There are answers worth billions of dollars in $30 history books.”

7. On Wisdom and Individuality

“Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group… then to hell with them.”

8. On Patience and Discipline

“It takes character to sit with all that cash and to do nothing. I didn’t get to where I am by going after mediocre opportunities.”

9. On Evolving Thought

“We all are learning, modifying, or destroying ideas all the time. Rapid destruction of your ideas when the time is right is one of the most valuable qualities you can acquire. You must force yourself to consider arguments on the other side.”

10. On Lifelong Learning

“Develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading; cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day.”