What are the motifs in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre?

Risk-taking and confidence is a recurring idea. Personal attributes that Livingston has in abundance are self-confidence and a willingness to take risks. It is important to understand that the two are linked—Livingston is not in favor of taking unnecessary or uninformed risks. He does believe that if a trader believes he understands what he is doing, he must be prepared to test it with his money.