I look for four things: profitable businesses, honest management, reinvestment opportunities, and a fair price. That's the whole system.

Compounding is the most powerful force in business. My job is to remove anything that interrupts it.

The best deal is one where the buyer, the seller, and the community all win. If anyone loses, the deal isn't as good as you think.

I don't need to be in New York. I don't need to be on CNBC. I need to read annual reports and think. Richmond is perfect for that.

Portfolio turnover is the enemy of compounding. Every time you sell, you reset the clock and pay taxes. I prefer not to sell.

Markel is a 30-year project, not a quarterly earnings story. If you need excitement, buy a lottery ticket.