Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, the words of Warren Buffett, the oracle of patience and prudence: “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” These words, though born in the world of markets and money, strike deeper than finance alone. They are a principle of life itself, a torch for every wanderer. For what is risk, if not the danger of stepping blindly, of acting without vision, of moving without understanding? The one who knows where he stands, what he seeks, and how to reach it may face storms, but he does not tremble. It is ignorance, not fate, that breeds the greatest peril.

What is risk in truth? Many imagine it as the inevitable presence of danger, the uncertainty of the world, the roll of unseen dice. But Buffett unmasks it: risk is not in the world—it is in ourselves. The sea may be vast and the waves mighty, yet the seasoned sailor does not call it risk. To him it is challenge, it is trial, but not blind danger. To the fool who takes to the waters without compass, without skill, without thought—then the sea becomes death. Thus, risk is not the storm itself, but the ignorance of the one who sails into it unprepared.

And what of knowledge? Knowledge transforms risk into opportunity. The farmer who understands his land does not call the changing season a threat; he calls it the rhythm of life. The builder who knows his tools does not call labor a hazard; he calls it craft. So too, in the markets of wealth or the journeys of the soul, knowledge is the lamp that reveals the path, turning fear into confidence, and uncertainty into strategy. The one who knows what he is doing may stumble, but he will rise again, for his steps are guided not by chance, but by wisdom.

Consider the tale of Hannibal of Carthage, who led his armies across the Alps to strike at Rome. Many thought the venture impossible, a reckless risk. And indeed, to most it would have been. Yet Hannibal knew the terrain, prepared his men, and studied the enemy. What seemed madness to the ignorant was, in his hands, brilliance. His knowledge turned risk into triumph, and though Rome would later endure, Hannibal’s crossing remains immortal as a testament to courage guided by understanding.

Or think of the great investor himself, Buffett, who walked against the frenzy of crowds. When others rushed blindly into speculation, he refused. He did not gamble, for gambling is the child of ignorance. He studied, he learned, he watched patiently, and when he acted, he acted with clarity. Where others saw risk, he saw opportunity, because he knew what he was doing. And in this way, his fortune grew not from daring leaps into darkness, but from walking with steady steps in the light of knowledge.

The lesson, beloved listeners, is clear: fear not the world, but fear your own ignorance. Do not step into ventures half-blind, nor make choices without reflection. Prepare your mind, sharpen your skill, and seek understanding. Then risk will shrink before you, and what once seemed peril will become possibility. The storms of life will not vanish, but with knowledge, you will stand unshaken, for you will know how to steer through them.

Therefore, in your own journey, practice this: before you act, learn. Before you invest, understand. Before you choose, reflect. Seek counsel, study deeply, and know the ground beneath your feet. For when you know what you are doing, even the fiercest trial becomes a path to growth. But if you act in ignorance, even the simplest task may destroy you.

Take this teaching to heart: “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” Let it be your guide in labor, in love, in wealth, in war, in all things. Knowledge is your shield, wisdom your compass, preparation your strength. Walk with them, and you will find that what others call risk, you will call destiny.