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  • Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Proverbs 159. The proverb today is "Never test

  • the depth of the water with both feet. " Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. The

  • proverb is originally an African proverb. As an African proverb, it is worded as

  • " Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet. " So slightly

  • different. This proverb basically means it is not wise to jump into a situation

  • before thinking carefully about it. Okay. Let's continue. In the West this proverb

  • became famous because the investor, Warren Buffett often used it. He

  • adjusted it slightly as well. Buffett's quote was "Don't test the depth of a

  • river with both feet. " So he changed water to river. Buffett used it to mean the

  • same as another famous proverb which is basically to express the idea of another

  • proverb. :Don't put all your eggs in one basket." So don't put all of your

  • investments all into one thing. You know, again just in case you're wrong. Just in case,

  • it doesn't go .... Even, even if you think it's very good. Just in case it doesn't

  • go the way you think. Well let's continue. The idea behind this proverb is that if

  • you jump in the river with both feet you are in danger of being swept away. You know,

  • swept away at once. All at one time. So I guess both of your feet is kind of like

  • all of your money.If you make a bet on an investment and you are wrong, you know, a

  • lot ... even some of the best investors, once in a while are wrong. You're in danger of

  • losing everything or too much. Much more than you were prepared to lose. If you

  • put a considerable amount of money in it. So this is why they're advising you not

  • to do this. Don't, you know, because you're ... if it's a new investment, you should be

  • testing first. You know check it out. Don't put too much in it to begin with.

  • All right and here's just one example of the way we would use it. It is better to

  • diversify your investment. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. This

  • way, there is less risk. Okay. Great. I hope you got it. I hope it was clear. I hope you enjoyed

  • it. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.

Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Proverbs 159. The proverb today is "Never test

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