John Templeton quotes

John Templeton was a British-American investor, philanthropist, and mutual fund pioneer. His investment strategies emphasized diversification, global opportunities, and value investing. He became renowned for his charitable work and commitment to fostering spiritual and scientific progress. Here are 32 of his quotes:

It is nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. (John Templeton)
If we become increasingly humble about how little we know, we may be more eager to search. View quote
John Templeton
I focus on spiritual wealth now, and I'm busier, more enthusiastic, and more joyful than I have ever been. View quote
John Templeton
I'm really convinced that our descendants a century or two from now will look back at us with the same pity that we have toward the people in the field of science two centuries ago. View quote
John Templeton
I thought, I'm only going to be on this planet once, and only for a short time. What can I do with my life that will lead to permanent benefits? View quote
John Templeton
Work at being a humble person. View quote
John Templeton
It's self centered to think that human beings, as limited as we are, can describe divinity. View quote
John Templeton
The question is not is there a God, but is there anything else except God? God is everyone and each of us is a little bit. View quote
John Templeton
If you are not egotistical, you will welcome the opportunity to learn more. View quote
John Templeton
High ethics and religious principles form the basis for success and happiness in every area of life. View quote
John Templeton
The four most expensive words in the English language are "this time it's different." (John Templeton)
Let's worship Divinity, but understand the divinity we worship is beyond our comprehension. View quote
John Templeton
Those who spend too much will eventually be owned by those who are thrifty. View quote
John Templeton
The other boys at Yale came from wealthy families, and none of them were investing outside the United States, and I thought, 'That is very egotistical. Why be so shortsighted or near-sighted as to focus only on America? Shouldn't you be more open-minded? View quote
John Templeton
I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people - teachers and students both - but they did not come up with many new concepts. They weren't invited to come up with new concepts. Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out of step with the teachings of the church. View quote
John Templeton
In my 45-year career as an investment counselor, humility did show me the need for worldwide diversification to reduce risk. That career did help me to become more and more humble because statistics showed that when I advised a client to buy one stock to replace another, about one-third of the time the client would have done better to ignore my advice. In other endeavors, humility about how little I know has encouraged me to listen more carefully and more wisely. View quote
John Templeton
The main focus in my life now is to open people's minds so no one will be so conceited that they think they have the total truth. They should be eager to learn, to listen, to research and not to confine, to hurt, to kill, those who disagree with them. View quote
John Templeton
The objective of our religious foundations is to teach people that they are hurting themselves when they say they believe something. What we should realize is we know almost nothing about God and therefore we should be eager to search and to learn. View quote
John Templeton
Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out of step with the teachings of the church. View quote
John Templeton
A doctor today would never prescribe the treatments my grandfather used in the Confederate Army, but a minister says pretty much the same thing today that a minister would have said back then. View quote
John Templeton
The question is not is there a God, but is there anything else except God? (John Templeton)
Wouldn't it be conceited to suggest that I had the abilities to describe the deity? View quote
John Templeton
The idea that an individual can find God is terribly self-centered. It is like a wave thinking it can find the sea. View quote
John Templeton
I believe all religions are becoming obsolete, clinging to ancient concepts. View quote
John Templeton
We are trying to persuade people that no human has yet grasped 1% of what can be known about spiritual realities. View quote
John Templeton