Moneycontrol’s discussion explicitly says the source of these exact words is unclear. The unofficial Munger Archive assigns them to Poor Charlie’s Almanack without a passage location. The publisher text supports Munger’s emphasis on incentives, but the compact sentence was not established there in this check.
“Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome” Attributed to Charlie Munger; exact original wording and occasion unconfirmed.
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Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome.
Moneycontrol’s discussion explicitly says the source of these exact words is unclear. The unofficial Munger Archive assigns them to Poor Charlie’s Almanack without a passage location. The publisher text supports Munger’s emphasis on incentives, but the compact sentence was not established there in this check. Source-limit discussion ↗
Assigns the maxim to the Almanack but provides no precise original location. Unofficial attribution ↗
The original publication of this exact wording has not been established; no public-domain status is asserted.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
The setting behind the words
Munger’s published discussions explain how rewards can shape behavior in organizations. The incentive/outcome maxim is often used as a compact summary of that approach. The summary’s consistency with his thinking does not establish a verbatim sentence or first occasion. Source-limit discussion ↗
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Charlie Munger trained as a lawyer and became Warren Buffett’s long-term investing partner at Berkshire Hathaway. He also chaired Wesco Financial and the Daily Journal Corporation. His public talks combine business examples with psychology, mathematics and lessons about practical judgment.
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Charlie Munger. Attribution discussed in Source-limit discussion. Source and limits described above.
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Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/show-me-the-incentive-and-i-will-show-you-the-outcome/