One common adage. . . that is completely wrongheaded is: You can't go broke taking profits. That's precisely … - William Eckhardt

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Exxon [is one] of the biggest companies in the world. We'll find out whether it's [Rex Tillerson] or someone else on the list and so, listen, it's not a done deal. And it's premature. But I will tell you that I think this person is incredibly talented and could do a very good job as secretary of state.

William Eckhardt

One common adage. . . that is completely wrongheaded is: You can't go broke taking profits. That's precisely how many traders do go broke. While amateurs go broke by taking large losses, professionals go broke by taking small profits.

Broke, Common, Completely, Loss, Small, Wrongheaded

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The desire to maximize the number of winning trades (or minimize the number of losing trades) works against the trader. The success rate of trades is the least important performance statistic and may even be inversely related to performance.

Against, Losing, Numbers, Rate, Success, Winning

It's much easier to learn what you should do in trading than to do it. Good systems tend to violate normal human tendencies.

Easier, Normal, Should, Systems, Trading, Violate

People want to buy cheap and sell dear; this by itself makes them countertrend. But the notion of cheapness or dearness must be anchored to something. People tend to view the prices they’re used to as normal and prices removed from these levels as aberrant. This perpective leads people to trade counter to an emerging trend on the assumption that prices will eventually return to “normal”. Therein lies the path to disaster.

Cheap, Dear, Lies, Lying, People, Views

In many ways, large profits are even more insidious than large losses in terms of emotional destabilization. I think it's important not to be emotionally attached to large profits. I've certainly made some of my worst trades after long periods of winning. When you're on a big winning streak, there's a temptation to think that you're doing something special, which will allow you to continue to propel yourself upward. You start to think that you can afford to make shoddy decisions. You can imagine what happens next. As a general rule, losses make you strong and profits make you weak.

Emotional, Loss, Losses, Start, Strong, Ways

I haven't seen much correlation between good trading and intelligence. Some outstanding traders are quite intelligent, but a few aren't. Many outstanding intelligent people are horrible traders. Average intelligence is enough. Beyond that, emotional makeup is more important.

Emotional, Intelligent, Makeup, People, Trading