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Speculation As a Fine Art and Thoughts on Life
The bible for successful speculators, written on speculation, by a successful speculator. Watts was president of The New York Cotton Exchange between 1878 and 1879, which was then one of the greatest arenas of speculation in America. This is a combination of what is speculation, along with some thoughts on life, business, society, and language. An excellent thought starter.
54 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1965
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 9, 2020
This small but wonderful book is full of maxims and aphorisms to ruminate on for a long time.
November 14, 2018
Short and yo the Point! This is the equivalente of the Art of War for Speculation. Written at the beginning of 20th century but so many timeless truths.
February 12, 2023
An old book exploring principles for speculation and maxims on life.
Memorable quotes:
Don't stand shivering on the brink; take the plunge.
At thirty, most men are in a condition of arrested development. A few grow until their bodies fall into the grave.
Some people lie and never deceive; other speak truth and always deceive.
Administer correction with a joke, and it will go down like a sugar-coated pill.
In the presence of some people we wither like sensitive plants; in the presence of others, we expand like flowers.
The unpardonable sin, - not to make money.
Stagnation is damnation. Circulation is salvation.
If you wait until you see clearly, you will never act; if you wait for a pure motive, you will never move.
Never explain. Let your life be the explanation.
Patience is sustained courage.
Shyness is vanity turned inward.
In life, as in a game of cards, you must sit out bad luck.
To advise is to claim superiority and is resented, unless the superiority is admitted.
When in adversity, don't speak of it; you will make others unhappy. When in prosperity, don't speak of it; you will also make others unhappy.
To know when to begin is easy; when to stop, difficult.
Imagination is as great a power in business as it is in art, in literature, or in religion.
The more "hindsight" the better foresight.
It is always the "unlucky man" who believes in luck.
Take care of the losses; the profits will take care of themselves.
When you begin to doubt, begin to "get out."
The man who talks of his grand acquaintances is never a grand man.
Strong men are silent. When a strong man begins to talk, he is losing his power.
The mistake o f an able man is that he thinks others are as able as he.
To know when to speak is rare; when to be silent, rarer still.
Memorable quotes:
Don't stand shivering on the brink; take the plunge.
At thirty, most men are in a condition of arrested development. A few grow until their bodies fall into the grave.
Some people lie and never deceive; other speak truth and always deceive.
Administer correction with a joke, and it will go down like a sugar-coated pill.
In the presence of some people we wither like sensitive plants; in the presence of others, we expand like flowers.
The unpardonable sin, - not to make money.
Stagnation is damnation. Circulation is salvation.
If you wait until you see clearly, you will never act; if you wait for a pure motive, you will never move.
Never explain. Let your life be the explanation.
Patience is sustained courage.
Shyness is vanity turned inward.
In life, as in a game of cards, you must sit out bad luck.
To advise is to claim superiority and is resented, unless the superiority is admitted.
When in adversity, don't speak of it; you will make others unhappy. When in prosperity, don't speak of it; you will also make others unhappy.
To know when to begin is easy; when to stop, difficult.
Imagination is as great a power in business as it is in art, in literature, or in religion.
The more "hindsight" the better foresight.
It is always the "unlucky man" who believes in luck.
Take care of the losses; the profits will take care of themselves.
When you begin to doubt, begin to "get out."
The man who talks of his grand acquaintances is never a grand man.
Strong men are silent. When a strong man begins to talk, he is losing his power.
The mistake o f an able man is that he thinks others are as able as he.
To know when to speak is rare; when to be silent, rarer still.
April 6, 2025
Two pamphlet-length works here: the first, Speculation as a Fine Art, is a foundational old-school text for investors, cited repeatedly in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator.
The second, Thoughts on Life, contains short chapters of quotes and sayings in the style of Baltasar Gracian or Ep... [see the rest on my book review site.]
The second, Thoughts on Life, contains short chapters of quotes and sayings in the style of Baltasar Gracian or Ep... [see the rest on my book review site.]
August 25, 2019
This book was not at all what I was expecting. It is much more than a trading book, its a book of life lessons and advice. Surprised, but in a good way!
If you are looking for a trading system to make you millions this is not your book. If you are looking for a classic book with agelss advice, give it a read.
If you are looking for a trading system to make you millions this is not your book. If you are looking for a classic book with agelss advice, give it a read.
January 14, 2026
Good book, sound trading principles and very good general wisdom also. This feels like a conversation with a very successful uncle.
With a book about speculation in the stock market I would’ve liked more of the book to be about that. But overall worth the read and given the size, an easy and worthwhile reread also.
With a book about speculation in the stock market I would’ve liked more of the book to be about that. But overall worth the read and given the size, an easy and worthwhile reread also.
December 7, 2024
Gratísima sorpresa.
Muestra cómo la vida cotidiana y los mercados
se comportan a menudo con grandes similitudes
y siguen con frecuencia las mismas reglas.
Dickson G. Watts es el Publio Siro de las finanzas,
aun cuando sus aforismos no se circunscriban únicamente a ese mundillo.
Muestra cómo la vida cotidiana y los mercados
se comportan a menudo con grandes similitudes
y siguen con frecuencia las mismas reglas.
Dickson G. Watts es el Publio Siro de las finanzas,
aun cuando sus aforismos no se circunscriban únicamente a ese mundillo.
June 1, 2021
First part is interesting
August 27, 2021
This handbook is a great encyclopaedia for the quodophiles out there. Personally I had picked up more than a dozen very succinct and wise quotes and will be referred back to periodically.
January 1, 2021
Just wonderful. Full of Wisdoms. Should read everyday.
July 25, 2009
Don't be fooled by the gaudy cover -- this tiny book (44 pages) is a little classic of the genre. To be a successful trader requires self-knowledge above all. The world is what it is; trends trend as they trend. The same is given to all. What differentiates one trader from another is that the successful trader, like Machiavelli's Prince, knows how to read reality as it is given. Being bold when boldness is required, timid when timidity is best.... Thus, the best books on trading often end up being books on self-analysis.
One of the best books on trading I have ever read is this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25...)
which, despite it's title, deals almost entirely with epistemological issues.
Strange, but true...
One of the best books on trading I have ever read is this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25...)
which, despite it's title, deals almost entirely with epistemological issues.
Strange, but true...
December 12, 2014
Excellent quotes. Simply superb
September 3, 2015
Many aphorisms sound great, but what can I do with them?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews