There is a good measure of self-knowledge required to choose the proper investment course. It has even been postulated that many small investors in the stock market, without knowing it, secretly want to lose. They jump in with high hopes – but feeling vaguely guilty. Guilty over ‘gambling’ with the family’s money, guilty over trying to get ’something for nothing,’ or guilty over plunging in without really having done much research or analysis. Then they punish themselves, for these or other sins, by selling out, demoralized, at a loss.
– Andrew Tobias, The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need