VERIFIED
“Intensity is the price of excellence.”
- Commonly attributed to: Warren Buffett
- Actual source: Warren Buffett, characterizing retailer Ben Rosner, as reported in Alice Schroeder’s authorized biography The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life (Bantam, 2008)
- Earliest verified appearance: 2008 — Alice Schroeder, The Snowball (Bantam), in the passage on Buffett’s 1967 purchase of Ben Rosner’s Associated Cotton Shops: "intensity is the price of excellence." Doug Kass (2014) quotes it as what Buffett "said in characterizing Ben Rosner." No earlier print appearance found. — see The Snowball (2008) in the Internet Archive
- Confidence: Medium · Last verified: July 2026
The verdict: The line traces to Alice Schroeder’s 2008 Buffett biography The Snowball, where Buffett sums up obsessive retailer Ben Rosner: "intensity is the price of excellence" — genuine, but usually quoted without that context.
Every claim above links to a primary source I checked myself. How I verify quotes →
“Intensity is the price of excellence.”
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Understanding Intensity Is The Price Of Excellence
— Warren Buffett
Historians and scholars have extensively researched and documented this topic.
How This Quote Impacts Successful People Today
Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, shared this powerful insight with the world. When you explore “intensity is the price of excellece.” – warren buffet quote origin, you uncover a fundamental truth about high achievement. Excellence in any field does not happen by accident. Luck and casual effort do not produce outstanding results. Instead, exceptional achievement demands deliberate and focused application of energy. This concept—that intensity is the price of excellece—represents the true currency for purchasing outstanding results in any endeavor.
Many people confuse being busy with being intense. They are not the same thing. You can fill your days with tasks and meetings, yet this activity might lack the sharp focus that defines true intensity. Understanding “intensity is the price of excellece.” – warren buffet quote origin helps clarify this distinction. Intensity means concentrated effort. It requires you to direct all your mental and physical resources toward a single, important goal. It is the difference between simply showing up and striving to dominate your field.
The deeper meaning of “intensity is the price of excellece.” – warren buffet quote origin applies across all disciplines. Whether you pursue professional success, athletic achievement, artistic mastery, or personal growth, you cannot bypass this requirement. Those who grasp this principle and apply it gain a competitive advantage. They understand that intensity is the price of excellece, and they willingly pay it through focused action, unwavering commitment, and relentless effort toward their goals.