--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are no shortcuts to true excellence." description: "\"There are no shortcuts to true excellence.\" — Angela Duckworth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg" --- # There are no shortcuts to true excellence. ![“There are no shortcuts to true excellence.” quote by Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg) > “There are no shortcuts to true excellence.” [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that true excellence cannot be achieved through shortcuts. **In simple terms:** Excellence requires hard work, no shortcuts. Key Takeaway Commit to disciplined effort. Themes excellence effort perseverance integrity growth Mood motivational serious Type self‑help educational When to use this quote - academic study - skill mastery - career development Key Concepts grit deliberate practice long‑term goals Questions to Reflect On - What shortcuts tempt you? - How to resist them? A Different Perspective Shortcuts may lead to mediocrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Shortcuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcuts/) ## Related quotes > [“There are many shortcuts to failure, but there are no shortcuts to true success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/there-are-many-shortcuts-to-failure-but-there-are-no-shortcuts-to/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“There are no shortcuts. Being true to yourself and what really counts is the only route that leads anywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-fane/there-are-no-shortcuts-being-true-to-yourself-and-what-really-counts/) Sarah Fane > [Poetry is an art, and chief of the fine art; the easiest to dabble in, the hardest in which to reach true excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clarence-stedman/poetry-is-an-art-and-chief-of-the-fine-art-the-easiest-to-dabble-in/) [Edmund Clarence Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clarence-stedman/) > [Poetry is an art, the easiest to dabble in, but the hardest to reach true excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/poetry-is-an-art-the-easiest-to-dabble-in-but-the-hardest-to-reach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True excellence is a product of synergy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-wilberg/true-excellence-is-a-product-of-synergy/) [Mack Wilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-wilberg/) > [There are no shortcuts in the quest for perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hogan/there-are-no-shortcuts-in-the-quest-for-perfection/) [Ben Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hogan/) > [One thing that's true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they're not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/one-thing-that-s-true-of-gritty-people-is-they-love-what-they-do-and/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Everyone is in a hurry. The persons whom I lead in worship, among whom I counsel, visit, pray, preach, and teach, want shortcuts. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/everyone-is-in-a-hurry-the-persons-whom-i-lead-in-worship-among-whom/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [It's all just venom to the soul and symptomatic of a larger issue: the idea of the shortcut. The result without the fight. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/it-s-all-just-venom-to-the-soul-and-symptomatic-of-a-larger-issue-the/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/let-the-writer-take-up-surgery-or-bricklaying-if-he-is-interested-in/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I always tell people that this is a really simple deal: Work hard. If you work hard, follow what's required and set your priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-always-tell-people-that-this-is-a-really-simple-deal-work-hard-if/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [The advice that I can give anyone wanting to be in the biz: do all the work, learn your craft. There are no shortcuts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-judge/the-advice-that-i-can-give-anyone-wanting-to-be-in-the-biz-do-all-the/) [Christopher Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-judge/) > [I think people who are creative are the luckiest people on earth. I know that there are no shortcuts, but you must keep your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-think-people-who-are-creative-are-the-luckiest-people-on-earth-i/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/be-true-to-the-game-because-the-game-will-be-true-to-you-if-you-try/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [“We cαn creαte their shortcuts by simply drαgging them from the menu bαr to the nαvigαtion bαr.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hutten/we-c-n-cre-te-their-shortcuts-by-simply-dr-gging-them-from-the-menu-b/) Dennis Hutten ## More by Angela Duckworth > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“you can, in fact, modify your self-talk, and you can learn to not let it interfere with you moving toward your goals. With practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/you-can-in-fact-modify-your-self-talk-and-you-can-learn-to-not-let-it/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [One thing that's true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they're not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/one-thing-that-s-true-of-gritty-people-is-they-love-what-they-do-and/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [The focus on just thinking about standardized test scores as being synonymous with achievement for teenagers is ridiculous, right? There are so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-focus-on-just-thinking-about-standardized-test-scores-as-being/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Nobody wants to show you the hours and hours of becoming. They’d rather show the highlight of what they’ve become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/nobody-wants-to-show-you-the-hours-and-hours-of-becoming-they-d/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [I don't spend a lot of time thinking about my genes because I can't do anything about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/i-don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-thinking-about-my-genes-because-i-can-t/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“My longitudinal studies show these three virtue clusters predict different outcomes. For academic achievement, including stellar report card grades, the cluster containing grit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/my-longitudinal-studies-show-these-three-virtue-clusters-predict/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“For many of us, the companies we work for are an important cultural force in our lives. For instance, growing up, my dad liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/for-many-of-us-the-companies-we-work-for-are-an-important-cultural/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“trying to do things they can't yet do, failing, and learning what they need to do differently is exactly the way that experts practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/trying-to-do-things-they-can-t-yet-do-failing-and-learning-what-they/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Negative feelings are typical of learning, and you shouldn't feel like you're stupid when you're frustrated doing something. You might say to yourself, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/negative-feelings-are-typical-of-learning-and-you-shouldn-t-feel-like/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [I was a good novice teacher, but I did the things that were obvious. I stayed for lunch for extra tutoring, gave kids my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/i-was-a-good-novice-teacher-but-i-did-the-things-that-were-obvious-i/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“The separation of talent and skill,” Will Smith points out, “is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-separation-of-talent-and-skill-will-smith-points-out-is-one-of/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [What we reliably find is that people's perseverance scores are actually higher than their passion scores, and I think it really does get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/what-we-reliably-find-is-that-people-s-perseverance-scores-are/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Many things matter other than our measured intelligence, so let's get to work on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/many-things-matter-other-than-our-measured-intelligence-so-let-s-get/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“With everything perfect,” Nietzsche wrote, “we do not ask how it came to be.” Instead, “we rejoice in the present fact as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/with-everything-perfect-nietzsche-wrote-we-do-not-ask-how-it-came-to/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) [Explore all 161 Angela Duckworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) ## More Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are no shortcuts to true excellence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Angela Duckworth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/angela-duckworth-2560_excellence_there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellenc_2644005.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are no shortcuts to true excellence.” — Angela Duckworth", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Angela Duckworth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are no shortcuts to true...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/there-are-no-shortcuts-to-true-excellence/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```