When markets turn volatile, even seasoned investors can feel the pressure. But investing legend Warren Buffett has always advocated for calm, long-term thinking. His timeless quotes continue to offer clarity when stock prices tumble and panic sets in. Here are 10 quotes from the Oracle of Omaha that make perfect sense in a market crash:
“I never attempt to make money on the stock market. I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.”
Buffett’s philosophy centers on trust in the businesses you invest in—not the daily movements of the stock ticker.
“Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.”
Long-term conviction is key. Temporary market closures shouldn’t shake your faith in a strong investment.
“If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes.”
This quote underlines Buffett’s disdain for short-term speculation and trading trends.
“When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever.”
Buffett doesn’t just buy stocks—he invests in businesses he believes in for the long haul.
“Time is the friend of the wonderful company, the enemy of the mediocre.”
Good businesses get better over time. A downturn often helps separate the exceptional from the average.
“Charlie and I would follow a buy-and-hold policy even if we ran a tax-exempt institution.”
Whether or not taxes are a factor, Buffett and partner Charlie Munger stay loyal to their buy-and-hold mindset.
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
This is Buffett’s poetic way of emphasising the value of early and patient investing.
“Calling someone who trades actively in the market an investor is like calling someone who repeatedly engages in one-night stands a romantic.”
Buffett has never minced words when it comes to distinguishing between investing and trading.
“Buy a stock the way you would buy a house. Understand and like it such that you’d be content to own it in the absence of any market.”
Know what you’re buying and be prepared to hold it—regardless of external noise.
“Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.”
Market crashes can bring golden opportunities—but only if you’re ready and rational.
Each of these quotes is a reminder that investing success lies not in reacting to fear but in sticking to fundamentals. In Buffett’s world, patience isn’t just a virtue—it’s a strategy.
