Charlie Munger Quotes

By... [selecting] the youths of genius from among the classes of the poor, we hope to avail the State of those talents which nature has sown as liberally among the poor as the rich, but which perish without use if not sought for and cultivated.

Genius is supposed to be a power of producing excellences which are put of the reach of the rules of art: a power which no precepts can teach, and which no industry can acquire.

He used to tell me, 'Do what you like to do. It'll probably turn out to be what you do best.

Genius is nothing more or less than childhood recovered by will, a childhood how equipped for self-expression with an adult's capacities.

All we need to do is pay attention to ourselves and pay attention when somebody gives you a compliment based on something that you do naturally. Then that lets you know that that's your talent. I mean, talents come in so many different sizes, so many different colors, so many different ways.

To do easily what is difficult for others is the mark of talent.

If you look at the world-class performers at the top of the game, their numbers are just exceptional and that is the level he is at.

Any complex activity, if it is to be carried on with any degree of virtuosity, calls for appropriate gifts of intellect and temperament. If they are outstanding and reveal themselves in exceptional achievements, their possessor is called a 'genius'.

Overachievement is aimed at people who want to maximize their potential. And to do that, I insist you throw caution to the wind, ignore the pleas of parents, coaches, spouses, and bosses to be "realistic." Realistic people do not accomplish extraordinary things because the odds against success stymie them. The best performers ignore the odds. I will show you that instead of limiting themselves to what's probable, the best will pursue the heart-pounding, exciting, really big, difference-making dreams-so long as catching them might be possible.

If you want extraordinary results you must put in extraordinary effort.

Universality is the distinguishing mark of genius. There is no such thing as a special genius, a genius for mathematics, or for music, or even for chess, but only a universal genius. The genius is a man who knows everything without having learned it.

Genius is nothing more nor less than childhood recaptured at will.

No kid is unsmart. Every kid's a genius at something. Our job is to find it. And then encourage it.

Genius is nothing more nor less than doing well what anyone can do badly.

The definition of leadership is that you have to find great people and ask them to do extraordinary things. I've been doing that my whole life.

As with all journeys, the Way has an end, though it should not be imagined as a straight road leading to a fixed destination but rather as a majestic mountain whose peak conceals the presence of God. There are, of course, many paths to the summit-some better than others. But because every path eventually leads to the same destination, which path one takes is irrelevant.

Maybe when you were born on the top of the mountain you could pretend the mountain didn't matter, but those who climbed it and those born at its base who could never climb at all knew differently.

Quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.

Exceptional performers are masterful opportunists, keenly alert to opportunity!

An abstraction will move a mountain: Nothing can withstand an idea.

To be endowed with strength by nature, to be actuated by the powers of the mind, and to have a certain spirit almost divine infused into you.

Genius is native to the soil where it grows — is fed by the air, and warmed by the sun — and is not a hot - house plant or an exotic.

I like finding talent. That's what really turns me on, I suppose.

I never took any kind of vocal lessons or teachings of how to - I never even took piano lessons. And a voice just came to me and said, go play the piano in the church.

I look forward to the challenge, but most importantly, I look forward to the opportunity to do what hasn't been done that often, in a sense. Michael Jordan obviously has done it, but that's it.