"We enjoy the process far more than the proceeds"
About this Quote
The intent is partly personal branding, partly operating philosophy. Buffett has long marketed himself as the plainspoken Midwesterner who drinks Cherry Coke and reads annual reports for fun. This quote reinforces that mythos: the richest guy in the room who claims the real payoff is the work itself. The subtext, though, is sharper. If you genuinely love the process, you can outlast everyone chasing quick returns. Patience becomes a competitive advantage, not a virtue.
Context matters: Buffett’s world is capital markets, where “proceeds” are easy to fetishize because they’re measurable and public. By elevating “process,” he’s signaling what actually drives his edge: temperament, repetition, and a near-monastic attachment to decision-making. It’s also a gentle critique of modern finance culture, which often rewards theatrics over discipline and treats investing like adrenaline instead of craft.
There’s another layer: this is what the extremely wealthy can afford to say. When your basics are solved, you can romanticize the journey. Buffett’s quote works because it’s both sincere and strategic: an ethos that sounds humble while justifying relentless ambition. It tells you how he stays hungry without needing dinner.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work Ethic |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Buffett, Warren. (2026, January 18). We enjoy the process far more than the proceeds. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-enjoy-the-process-far-more-than-the-proceeds-16667/
Chicago Style
Buffett, Warren. "We enjoy the process far more than the proceeds." FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-enjoy-the-process-far-more-than-the-proceeds-16667/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"We enjoy the process far more than the proceeds." FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-enjoy-the-process-far-more-than-the-proceeds-16667/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.





