The specter of economic downturns looms ever-present, with savvy and thoughtful financial management the only way to weather the chaos. Trying to plan ahead is a fool’s errand, of course; after all, crises by definition are unpredictable. Even so, those with a mastery of financial strategies–and a willingness to think critically about the fluid factors of a continually changing economic landscape–stand to benefit the most from their investments. History is populated with lessons from great investors and theorists.