“Interest rates are to asset prices what gravity is to the apple.”

This metaphor explains that as interest rates rise, the value of all other investments—stocks, real estate, and bonds—is naturally pulled down, just as gravity pulls objects to earth. It provides a strategic insight into the fundamental mechanics of the economy, prioritizing the understanding of "macro" forces over individual price fluctuations. In modern economic discourse, this statement is the foundational rule for understanding why markets crash or boom in response to central bank decisions. People share this today to explain the complex relationship between the cost of money and the value of their savings and investments. Buffett uses this principle to stay patient when rates are low and prices are high, waiting for the "gravitational pull" of higher rates to bring asset prices back to a reasonable level. The practical lesson is to always consider the prevailing interest rate environment when making financial decisions, as it is the invisible force that determines the ultimate success of your capital allocation.