The Sharp Ascent of the Letter B… Buffett’s Intuition and Conviction
Warren Buffett, who recently announced his retirement, is hailed as the most successful investor of our time, having achieved an average annual return close to 20% over decades. His handwriting reveals the very principles behind his unparalleled investment performance.
First, frugality is the foundation of investment success. Buffett’s handwriting shows extremely tight spacing between words and strokes. Like his lifestyle, it reflects restraint and efficiency — a visual representation of his disciplined avoidance of unnecessary spending. He once said, “If you buy things you don’t need, you will soon sell things you do need.”
Second, act with vision and intuition. His writing consistently rises to the right, with the beginning strokes of letters like ‘E’ and ‘B’ shooting sharply upward. This upward thrust symbolizes a strong will to rise, an optimistic worldview, and decisive intuition. Buffett valued long-term vision over short-term gains and once said, “I never doubted I would become rich.” That unwavering self-belief was a pillar of his success.
Third, quick judgment and swift execution matter. Buffett writes rapidly, with firm and forceful strokes. This trait mirrors his habit of translating decisions into immediate action. The large loop at the start of the letter ‘W’ signals a strong sense of responsibility — an awareness of the weight of his actions.
Fourth, imagination must be coupled with analysis. The long, narrow loops in his ‘f’s reflect exceptional discernment. Buffett’s conservative investment style is not driven by fear but by confidence built through deep research and rigorous analysis.
Fifth, cultivate patience and a long-term perspective. The long horizontal bars on ‘t’ and ‘f’ denote persistence. Buffett always looked 10 or 20 years ahead when evaluating a business. He urged investors to focus not on present conditions but on business models that would withstand the test of time.
Warren Buffett’s handwriting is more than a trail of ink — it’s a compressed philosophy of thrift, action, vision, patience, analysis, and conviction. Even with a pen, he practiced what he preached.
Chosun Ilbo, June 10, 2025.