Quote of the day by Hetty Green: "I buy when things are low and no one wants them. I keep them until they go up and people are crazy to get them."

“I buy when things are low and no one wants them. I keep them until they go up and people are crazy to get them.” — Hetty Green

Buying When Fear Dominates

Hetty Green’s famous investment philosophy captures one of the enduring principles of investing: buying when fear and pessimism have pushed prices lower, rather than following the crowd when enthusiasm is at its peak.


Green, one of the wealthiest women of her era, was known for her disciplined and conservative approach to money. Her words underline the importance of patience, conviction and a willingness to look beyond prevailing market sentiment.

Read more: Quote of the day by Fred Schwed Jr: "People would rather believe that they have been robbed than that they have been fools on the advice of fools"

The Difference Between Price And Value

Markets often move in cycles. During periods of uncertainty, investors may rush to sell assets, pushing prices lower. When sentiment improves and demand returns, those same assets can command higher valuations.

The philosophy also highlights the difference between price and value. A falling price does not automatically make an asset cheap, just as a rising price does not necessarily mean it is expensive. Investors need to assess fundamentals, earnings potential, financial health and the broader economic environment before deciding whether an opportunity exists.

Patience Is Part Of Investing

Green’s advice also carries a lesson about patience. Buying an asset is only one part of investing; investors must also be prepared to hold through periods when the market remains uncertain or sentiment stays weak.

Waiting for an investment thesis to play out can be difficult when prices continue to move against an investor. However, Green’s philosophy suggests that patience can be important when markets eventually reassess an asset’s underlying value.

Going Against The Crowd

The quote ultimately serves as a reminder that investing is not always about following the crowd. Opportunities can emerge when pessimism is widespread and investors are reluctant to buy.

At the same time, buying simply because an asset has fallen can be risky. Investors still need to determine whether the decline reflects temporary sentiment or a genuine deterioration in the underlying fundamentals.

Green’s words remain relevant because they capture a central tension in financial markets: the moments when an asset appears least attractive can sometimes be the moments when investors begin looking most closely at its long-term value.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)