Alan Farley has an article defending his trading with a ‘predatory instinct’. (That article is subject to change at any time, snag it while you can.) Here are some of my favorite parts:

Stand apart from the crowd at all times. Be the first in and out of the profit door. Your job is to take their money before they take yours. Be ready to pounce on ill-advised decisions, poor judgment and bad timing. Your success depends on the misfortune of others.

I earn a living when other people put on their dumb hats, and buy too high or sell too low. Traders like me don’t build bridges, sell suits, or lead flocks to salvation. We contribute nothing to society except pure liquidity and an aggressive attitude. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Traders work directly with the machine language of world capitalism. It’s the only profession I know that doesn’t depend on a boss, a company or an economy. At its core, trading feeds ruthlessly off the excesses of the marketplace. It just wouldn’t be the same without all the manipulation, misinformation and monkey business.