India, Aug. 24 -- Warren Buffett's quote is a lesson about timing and patience. The American investor and former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is known not only for his investing success but also for turning complicated market lessons into simple advice.

Buffett's message is simple: smart investors act early, while others often rush in when it is already too late. The quote, featured in The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America, warns against blindly following an investment trend after prices have already gone up sharply.

The quote is especially relevant when investors chase assets just because they see others making money. Early investors may have researched an opportunity and bought when prices were still low. Late inves...