Charles Munger: I had a mentor-Benjamin Franklin.

Part of the collection of "Poor Charlie" is like a biography, which tells the story of Charles Munger's almost life experience from birth to now. Born in 1 924,65438+1October1,now 93 years old. Throughout his decades of life experience, my strongest and deepest impression is that there is a spiritual leader who has been leading him to grow and succeed. This leader is Benjamin Franklin.

The title of Poor Charlie Collection, except that Charles Munger's real name is Charlie, actually hopes to imitate Franklin's Poor Richard Yearbook. Benjamin Franklin published his Poor Richard Yearbook under the name of Poor Richard from 1733 to 1758. It is rich and colorful, including not only many famous Franklin quotations, but also calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical information and astrological data. Yearbooks were very popular at that time, and about 654.38 million copies could be bought every year.

Today, Charles Munger can't remember when he first came into contact with Benjamin Franklin's aphorisms, but they made Charlie have an indelible admiration for this eccentric politician and inventor, and this admiration ran through his life.

Who is Franklin? Why can you have such a great influence on Charlie? I asked Du Niang, and she described it so simply (plus my own handling):

He was also the only founding father who participated in the formulation of the Declaration of Independence, the Paris Peace Treaty and the Constitution of the United States of America. French economist Turgut said of Franklin: "He got thunder and lightning from heaven and civil rights from tyrants."

Benjamin Franklin's simple, diligent and responsible qualities and encyclopedic knowledge deeply touched Charles Munger, and eventually became a die-hard fan who followed him all his life.

Benjamin Franklin's career spanned many fields, such as government, commerce, finance and industry. He achieved the goal of financial independence with the money he earned, so he was able to concentrate on social improvement. Charlie admired this quality of his spiritual mentor and tried to imitate Franklin. Buffett once said in an interview with reporters, "I think Charlie's moral quality really comes from Benjamin Franklin, whom he admires very much."

Warren Buffett thinks that Charles Munger is not just a follower of Franklin. He put it this way: "From 1733 to 1758, Benjamin Franklin spread many useful and eternal suggestions through Poor Richard's Yearbook. The virtues he praised include thrift, responsibility, diligence and simplicity. In the next two centuries, people always regarded Benjamin's thoughts on these virtues as the ultimate truth. Then Charles Munger stepped forward. Charlie was originally a disciple of Benjamin, but he soon opened up a new realm. What Benjamin suggested became what Charlie had to do. If Benjamin suggested saving a few cents, Charlie would ask for saving a few dollars. "

In 1744, Benjamin Franklin was not famous. Out of his hobbies unrelated to business, he published a book, including On Old Age written by Cicero at the age of 60. Franklin tried his best to follow these suggestions. As a result, he lived for a long time and was admired by many people. His later years were the most constructive and happiest in history. This also has a great influence on Munger, which has created Munger's concept and style of "praising the elderly". Even Buffett has become a descendant of these ideas. "On the platform of earthly success, he imitated Cicero, old Cato and Franklin and tirelessly told others how to think and act. His words are often wise and humorous, which makes people happy to accept. "

In other words, Franklin not only had believers like Charles Munger, but also deeply influenced Buffett.

I'm not sure, how much of Charlie Munger's ultimate achievement comes from his family's genes? How much came from his meeting with Warren Buffett? But there is no doubt that Franklin's influence on the formation of his personality and three views is hard to see, from the inside out, throughout his life. This may be the power of the mentor.

Poor Charlie's collection is still under study. Welcome to watch and discuss.