Ray Dalio is a well-known American investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist.
He is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds.
Dalio is also the author of several books, including “Principles: Life and Work,” in which he shares his philosophy on life, business, and investing.
Here are some of the characteristics of Ray Dalio’s quotes on principles, life, and investment:
- Straightforward and practical: Ray Dalio’s quotes are often straightforward and practical. He believes in a common-sense approach to life and investing, and his quotes reflect this belief.
- Focused on principles: Dalio is a firm believer in the power of principles. He believes that having a set of guiding principles is essential for success in any endeavor. His quotes often emphasize the importance of identifying and adhering to principles.
- Reflective and introspective: Dalio is known for his reflective and introspective approach to life and work. His quotes often encourage readers to take a step back and reflect on their experiences and decisions.
- Data-driven: Dalio is a big believer in using data to inform decision-making. His quotes often emphasize the importance of collecting and analyzing data to make better decisions.
- Long-term perspective: Dalio is known for his long-term perspective on investing. His quotes often emphasize the importance of taking a long-term view and avoiding short-term thinking.
- Humble and open-minded: Dalio is a humble and open-minded person, and his quotes reflect this trait. He encourages readers to be open to new ideas and to embrace feedback and criticism.
- Emphasis on teamwork and collaboration: Dalio believes that teamwork and collaboration are essential for success. His quotes often emphasize the importance of working together and learning from others.
Overall, Ray Dalio’s quotes are characterized by a practical, principle-driven approach to life and work, a focus on long-term thinking, and a belief in the power of teamwork and collaboration.
Ray Dalio Quotes
Ray Dalio Quotes:
- “Pain plus reflection equals progress.”
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.”
- “Don’t worry about looking good—worry about achieving your goals.”
- “The biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent past is likely to persist.”
- “Be radically open-minded and radically transparent.”
- “I never cared much about others’ conclusions — only for the reasoning that led to these conclusions.”
- “The greatest tragedy of mankind — or one of them — is that people needlessly hold wrong opinions in their minds.”
- (A variation of the above) “I think the greatest tragedy of mankind is that people have ideas and opinions in their heads but don’t have a process for properly examining these ideas to determine what’s true.”
- “The most important thing is that you have the courage to admit when you’re wrong.”
- “Good work habits are vastly underrated. People who push through successfully have to-do lists that are reasonably prioritized, and they make certain each item is ticked off in order.”
- “Remember that the best way to learn is through mistakes.”
- “Truth—more precisely, an accurate understanding of reality—is the essential foundation for producing good outcomes.”
- “You need to be able to think independently and be comfortable disagreeing with the consensus.”
- “Radical truth and radical transparency are fundamental to meaningful work and relationships.”
- “The biggest mistake people make is to not see themselves and others objectively.”
- “Don’t let your ego get in the way of making the best decision.”
- “The most important thing is that you understand what you don’t know.”
- “Painful experiences are the best way to learn.”
- “The key is to balance your passion with discipline.”
- “The biggest threat to success is complacency.”
- “Successful people are those who are willing to do what others are not.”
- “If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to be wrong and change your mind.”
- “An idea meritocracy is a system in which the best ideas win out.”
- “In order to be successful, you need to be both confident and humble.”
- “The more you learn, the more you earn.”
- “It’s important to remember that success is a process, not an event.”
- “You have to be willing to fail in order to succeed.”
- “Don’t be afraid to take risks and make mistakes.”
- “It’s important to always be learning and growing.”
- “Good communication is essential to success.”
- “You need to be able to see things from multiple perspectives.”
- “Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work hard for 22 minutes to make sense of something that most people would give up on after 30 seconds.”
- “It’s important to always be thinking about how you can improve.”
- “The best way to learn is through experience.”
- “You need to be willing to embrace change in order to succeed.”
- “You need to have a clear understanding of your goals and objectives.”
- “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
- “It’s important to surround yourself with people who challenge you.”
- “You need to be willing to take responsibility for your mistakes.”
- “The key to success is to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.”
- “Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.”
- “The most important thing is to be true to yourself.”
55 Best Ray Dalio Quotes On Investing and Principles Of Success
Ray Dalio Quotes – Principles
Ray Dalio Quotes – Principles:
- “Embrace reality and deal with it.”
- “Pain + Reflection = Progress.”
- “Don’t mistake a clear view for a short distance.”
- “An idea meritocracy is a system in which the best ideas win.”
- “Radical transparency and radical truthfulness are essential for an idea meritocracy.”
- “Recognize the power of knowing what you don’t know.”
- “To be effective, you must be honest about what you know and what you don’t know.”
- “Be clear on what you want, and why you want it.”
- “Make your passion and your work one and the same and do it with people you want to be with.”
- “Remember that almost everything will take more time and cost more money than you initially anticipate.”
- “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”
- “Don’t worry about looking good; worry about achieving your goals.”
- “Understand and accept your weaknesses so you can hire people who are strong in those areas.”
- “Be radically open-minded and radically transparent to get the best possible outcomes.”
- “Don’t let your ego get in the way of making the best decision.”
- “Make sure everyone’s goals are aligned, and everyone understands what success looks like.”
- “The key to success is having the right people in the right roles.”
- “To achieve success, you need to have a culture of learning and improvement.”
- “Remember that pain is a signal that something needs to change.”
- “Always be learning and seeking new knowledge.”
- “Be willing to take risks and fail, but learn from those failures and move forward.”
- “Don’t let your past mistakes limit your future potential.”
Ray Dalio Quotes on Life
Ray Dalio Quotes on Life:
- “The more you learn, the more you earn.”
- “Embrace reality and deal with it.”
- “Pain plus reflection equals progress.”
- “Be radically open-minded and radically transparent.”
- “The biggest mistake most people make is to not see themselves and others objectively.”
- “The greatest gift you can give someone is the power to be successful.”
- “We are creatures of habit, and by changing our habits, we can change our lives.”
- “Don’t let your fears stop you from doing what you want to do.”
- “Success is the result of your habits.”
- “The only way to succeed is to fail.”
- “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.”
- “The only constant is change.”
- “Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Learn from them and move on.”
- “Life is like a game, and if you want to win, you have to learn the rules.”
- “Don’t let your ego get in the way of your success.”
- “People who are successful are not necessarily smarter or more talented. They are simply more disciplined and focused.”
- “The key to success is to never stop learning.”
- “Be true to yourself, but also be open to feedback and criticism.”
- “The most important thing in life is to have meaningful relationships.”
- “Strive for excellence in everything you do, but also be kind to yourself and others.”
- “Radical honesty and radical transparency lead to better decision-making.”
- “Painful experiences are the best opportunities for growth and learning.”
- “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”
- “Success is not just about making money, it’s about making a difference in the world.”
Ray Dalio Quotes on Values
Ray Dalio Quotes on Values:
- “Truth – more precisely, an accurate understanding of reality – is the essential foundation for producing good outcomes.”
- “I believe that the key to success lies in knowing and accepting your weaknesses, seeking out criticism and surrounding yourself with people who are better than you are.”
- “The greatest tragedy of mankind is that people hold onto their opinions and beliefs with such tenacity that they fail to see beyond them.”
- “Radical open-mindedness and radical transparency are invaluable for finding truth and making good decisions.”
- “Pain plus reflection equals progress.”
- “The most important thing in life is meaningful work and meaningful relationships.”
- “Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.”
- “Excellence is a journey, not a destination.”
- “I learned that everyone makes mistakes and has weaknesses and that one of the most important things that differentiates people is their approach to handling them.”
- “The greatest mistake of all is to avoid making one.”
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.”
- “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”
- “It’s not enough to just have principles. You have to be willing to stick to them when they’re inconvenient.”
- “People who overweigh the first-order consequences of their decisions and ignore the effects of second- and subsequent-order consequences rarely make good decisions.”
- “Great opportunities come from great problems.”
- “The biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent past is likely to persist.”
- “I believe that the most valuable asset you can have is a well-functioning team.”
- “The best way to make money is not to focus on making money.”
- “You can have anything you want, but you can’t have everything you want.”
- “You don’t need to have brilliant ideas or be the smartest person in the room to be successful. You just need to be able to recognize the good ideas, and have the humility to learn from others.”
Ray Dalio Quotes on Success
Ray Dalio Quotes on Success:
- “To be successful, you must be in love with what you do.”
- “Pain + Reflection = Progress.”
- “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”
- “The biggest mistake most people make is to not see themselves and others objectively.”
- “The most important thing is to be able to take criticism, to be self-aware and to be able to see what you don’t know.”
- “People who go through life expecting to have it easy and expecting everything handed to them are inevitably disappointed.”
- “The greatest gift you can give someone is the power to be successful. Giving that power to others is what true leadership is all about.”
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.”
- “Success is a state of mind. If you want to be successful, start thinking of yourself as a success.”
- “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning, and if you’re not learning, you’re not growing.”
- “The key to success is to know yourself, to know what you want and to have the courage to pursue it.”
- “The most successful people in the world are those who have learned to fail gracefully and to bounce back from setbacks quickly.”
- “The best way to achieve success is to help others achieve success.”
- “In order to be successful, you must be willing to take risks, to embrace uncertainty and to be comfortable with ambiguity.”
- “The road to success is always under construction. It requires hard work, determination and perseverance.”
- “Success is not a destination, it’s a journey. And the journey is always more important than the destination.”
- “The most successful people are those who have learned to be adaptable, to embrace change and to evolve with the times.”
- “To be successful, you must be able to handle adversity with grace, to stay calm in the face of chaos and to keep your eye on the prize.”
- “The secret to success is not what you do, but how you do it. It’s about having the right mindset, the right attitude and the right approach.”
- “The most successful people are those who have a strong sense of purpose, a clear vision of what they want to achieve and the determination to make it happen.”
- “Success is not just about achieving your goals, it’s about the person you become in the process.”
- “The most successful people in the world are those who have learned to embrace failure, to learn from their mistakes and to use setbacks as opportunities for growth.”
Ray Dalio Quotes on Business
Ray Dalio Quotes on Business:
- “In order to be successful, you have to be independent-minded and able to tolerate uncertainty.”
- “Don’t let your ego get in the way of making the best decision possible.”
- “It’s important to have a clear understanding of your goals and to align your actions accordingly.”
- “The most important thing in business is to be able to learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.”
- “The greatest tragedy of mankind is that people hold onto their opinions and don’t allow themselves to be open-minded.”
- “Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from pursuing your dreams.”
- “The most successful people are those who are willing to take risks and make mistakes.”
- “In order to be successful, you have to be willing to put in the hard work and make sacrifices.”
- “Success is not about being lucky, it’s about being prepared and taking advantage of opportunities.”
- “Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice when you need it.”
- “It’s important to surround yourself with people who have different perspectives and can challenge your thinking.”
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
- “In business, it’s important to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.”
- “In order to be successful, you have to be able to adapt and change with the times.”
- “Success is a result of taking action and not just thinking about it.”
- “It’s important to have a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses and to surround yourself with people who complement them.”
- “Don’t let setbacks discourage you from pursuing your goals.”
- “The key to success is not just hard work, but smart work.”
- “The best way to learn is through experience and making mistakes.”
- “In business, it’s important to be honest and transparent with your customers and employees.”
- “Success is not just about making money, it’s about making a positive impact on the world.”
- “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be too afraid to make one.”
- Wealth = Buying Power
- Wealth ≠ Financial Wealth
- Making Wealth = Being Productive
- Wealth Decline = Power Decline
- “As for what is happening now, the biggest problem that we collectively now have is that for many people, companies, nonprofit organizations, and governments the incomes are low in relation to the expenses, and the debts and other liabilities (such as those for pension, healthcare, and insurance) are very large relative to the value of their assets. It may not seem that way—in fact it often seems the opposite—because there are many people, companies, nonprofit organizations, and governments that look rich even while they are in the process of going broke. They look rich because they spend a lot, have plenty of assets, and even have plenty of cash. However, if you look carefully you will be able to identify those who look rich but are in financial trouble because they have incomes that are below their expenses and/or liabilities that are greater than their assets so, if you project out what will likely happen to their finances, you will see that they will have to cut their expenses and sell their assets in painful ways that will leave them broke. We each need to do those projections of what the future will look like for our own finances, for others who are relevant to us, and for the world economy.”
- Improving productivity is the only way incomes can rise to be greater than expenditures, and that’s what’s required to manage debts well.
- Why don’t both sides of the political divide focus on productivity? Because most people are focused on what they get rather than what they produce to exchange with others so they can get what they need.
Ray Dalio Quotes on Investing
Ray Dalio Quotes on Investing:
- “Don’t try to be a jack of all trades; be a master of one. If you’re really good at something, you can be more effective by focusing on that and collaborating with others who have complementary skills.”
- “In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable.”
- “Timing the market is a fool’s game.”
- “When you’re investing, always look at the downside before looking at the upside.”
- “The best way to manage risk is to diversify your portfolio.”
- “To be successful at investing, you need to have an open mind and be willing to learn from your mistakes.”
- “Investing is about managing risk, not avoiding it.”
- “Competing in the markets is more difficult than competing in the Olympics.”
- “Have a balanced portfolio.”
Ray Dalio Quotes on Cash
Ray Dalio Quotes on Cash:
- “Cash is trash.” – In an interview with CNBC in January 2020, Dalio stated that he would rather own other assets such as stocks or real estate than hold cash. He argued that with interest rates at historic lows, cash is not a good investment and that investors should diversify their portfolios.
- “Don’t let cash be your largest holding.” – In his book, “Principles: Life and Work,” Dalio advises against holding too much cash and suggests that investors should diversify their portfolios across different asset classes.
- “The best investment strategy is to have a balanced portfolio of diversified investments that perform well in both inflationary and deflationary environments.” – In an interview with Yahoo Finance in November 2020, Dalio emphasized the importance of diversification and investing in a variety of assets to hedge against market volatility and inflation.
- “Cash is a bad long-term investment.” – In a LinkedIn post from October 2019, Dalio argued that holding cash over the long-term is a bad investment because it doesn’t provide a return that keeps up with inflation.
Ray Dalio Quotes on Risk Management
Here are some of his notable quotes on Dalio’s risk management:
- “Don’t bet on what you hope will happen; bet on what you think is most likely to happen.”
- “The biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent past is likely to persist in the future.”
- “Diversification is the only free lunch in finance.”
- “The best way to manage risk is to be diversified across a variety of uncorrelated assets.”
- “The only way to avoid mistakes is not to invest—which is the biggest mistake of all.”
- “The greatest mistake of the individual investor is to think that a market that did well is a good market rather than a more expensive one.”
- “The key to success is to bet big on your best ideas and small on your worst ideas.”
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.”
- “The more you can spread your bets, the less you have to depend on any one bet being right.”
- “Don’t let fear stop you from taking risks. Without risks, there can be no reward.”
Overall, Dalio emphasizes the importance of diversification, betting on the most likely outcomes, and not letting fear hold you back from taking calculated risks.
Ray Dalio Quotes on Gold
Here are some of Dalio’s notable quotes on gold:
- “If you don’t own gold, you know neither history nor economics.”
- “Gold should be a part of everyone’s portfolio to some degree because it diversifies the portfolio and it is a storehold of wealth.”
- “Gold is a currency. It is still, by all evidence, a premier currency. No fiat currency, including the dollar, can match it.”
- “Gold is a timeless and universal currency. It serves as a hedge against inflation and a store of value, and it has been used for thousands of years as a medium of exchange.”
Overall, Ray Dalio believes that gold is an important asset to own due to its historical and economic significance, as well as its ability to serve as a store of value and a hedge against inflation.
Ray Dalio Quotes on Evolution
Ray Dalio Quotes on Evolution:
- “Evolution is the single greatest force in the universe. It is the only thing that is permanent and it drives everything.”
- “Evolution is a process of constant improvement. It’s a process of trial and error, where the things that work survive and the things that don’t work die off.”
- “Evolution is about adapting to change. Those who can adapt will survive and those who can’t will perish.”
- “The most successful people are those who are constantly evolving. They are never satisfied with the status quo and are always looking for ways to improve.”
- “Evolution is not about being the strongest or the smartest, it’s about being the most adaptable.”
Overall, Ray Dalio views evolution as a powerful force that drives everything in the universe.
He sees it as a process of constant improvement and adaptation, and believes that those who can evolve and adapt will be the most successful.
Ray Dalio Quotes on Philanthropy
Ray Dalio Quotes on Philanthropy:
- “Giving is the highest level of living.”
- “If you have been successful, you should give back to society in a significant way.”
- “Wealth is not created solely for the purpose of personal consumption, but also for the greater good.”
- “Philanthropy is an investment in the future. By supporting causes that make a positive impact, we can help create a better world for future generations.”
- “Philanthropy is not just about giving money, it’s about giving time, knowledge, and resources to make a difference.”
- “There are many good double bottom-line investments in education, infrastructure, fighting the drug problem, addressing mental illness, and other programs that produce broad-based opportunities.”
Dalio believes that giving back is an important part of living a fulfilling life, especially for those who have been successful.
He sees philanthropy as an investment in the future and a way to create a better world for future generations.
Ray Dalio Quotes on Psychology
Ray Dalio Quotes on Psychology:
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.”
- “Pain plus reflection equals progress.”
- “The greatest tragedy of mankind is that people hold onto their opinions and ideologies as if they are absolute truths. The truth is that our understanding of reality is limited, and we must constantly revise our beliefs based on new information and experiences.”
- “Don’t let your ego get in the way of making the best decisions.”
- “The only thing that’s constant is change, so you need to learn to embrace it.”
- “Most people make the mistake of thinking they know what they want, and then they spend their lives chasing after it. The truth is, most of us don’t really know what we want, and that’s okay. The important thing is to keep exploring and experimenting until you find something that resonates with you.”
- “Radical transparency and radical truthfulness are essential for personal and organizational success.”
- “Pain is a signal that something is wrong, and we need to pay attention to it if we want to grow and improve.”
- “Don’t let fear hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Embrace the uncertainty and take calculated risks.”
- “Success is not just about achieving your goals, it’s about becoming the best version of yourself.”
Ray Dalio Quotes on History
Ray Dalio Quotes on History:
- History shows that when an individual, organization, country, or empire spends more than what they earn, misery and turbulence are ahead.
- Those who spend modestly and have a surplus are more sustainably successful than those who earn a lot more and have deficits.
- History shows that when an individual, organization, country, or empire spends more than what they earn, misery and turbulence are ahead.
- History also shows that countries that have higher percentages of people who are self-sufficient tend to be more socially, politically, and economically stable.
- The United States now is spending a lot more money than it’s earning and paying for it by printing money that is being devalued. To improve we have to raise productivity and cooperation. Right now we are on the wrong path.
- Through time and across countries, history has shown that there is a symbiotic relationship between those who have wealth and those who have political power, and that the type of deal they have between them determines the ruling order.
- Wealth and power are mutually supportive.
FAQs – Ray Dalio Quotes
What are some famous quotes by Ray Dalio?
Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, is a well-known American investor, philanthropist, and author.
Here are some of his famous quotes:
- “Pain + Reflection = Progress” – This quote from Dalio emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and using them to move forward.
- “The biggest mistake most people make is to not see themselves and others objectively, which leads to poor decision-making and adversarial relationships” – In this quote, Dalio emphasizes the importance of viewing oneself and others objectively to make better decisions and build better relationships.
- “Don’t let your ego get in the way of truth” – This quote highlights the importance of humility in seeking the truth and making rational decisions.
- “The greatest tragedy of mankind is that people hold onto their opinions and are not open-minded” – This quote emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness in learning and growing.
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential” – This quote encourages people to embrace failure as a necessary part of growth and development.
- “Understand that people are wired differently” – In this quote, Dalio highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting individual differences to build better relationships and teams.
- “Radical open-mindedness and radical transparency are invaluable for rapid learning and effective change” – This quote highlights the importance of openness and transparency in creating a culture of learning and improvement.
- “Be a hyperrealist” – In this quote, Dalio encourages people to be honest with themselves and face reality head-on, rather than avoiding difficult truths.
- “Everything that happens is another opportunity to learn” – This quote emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset and seeing setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement.
- “Principles are ways of successfully dealing with reality to get what you want out of life” – This quote highlights the importance of having guiding principles to navigate through life’s challenges and achieve one’s goals.
What are Ray Dalio’s most famous quotes on investing and trading?
Here are some of Ray Dalio’s most famous quotes on investing and trading:
- “Don’t let the fear of making a mistake prevent you from making anything.”
- “The biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent past is likely to persist. They assume that something that was a good investment in the recent past is still a good investment today, and they buy it. It’s a big mistake.”
- “In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable.”
- “Diversification is a hedge against ignorance.”
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.”
- “The most important thing you can do is be humble in the face of the markets.”
- “The greatest mistake investors make is to believe that what worked in the past will work in the future.”
- “Successful investing is about managing risk, not avoiding it.”
- “It’s not whether you’re right or wrong that’s important, but how much money you make when you’re right and how much you lose when you’re wrong.”
- “The key to success in investing is to balance your emotions with your analysis.”