--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's an open secret that if a debtor is…" description: "\"It's an open secret that if a debtor is willing to wait long enough, he can probably get away with paying almost nothing, as long as he doesn't mind hu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/charles-duhigg-1088_almost_it-s-an-open-secret-that-if-a-debtor-is_1375060.png" --- # It's an open secret that if a debtor is willing to wait… ![“It's an open secret that if a debtor is willing to wait long enough, he can probably get away with paying almost nothing, as long as he doesn't mind hurting his credit score.” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/charles-duhigg-1088_almost_it-s-an-open-secret-that-if-a-debtor-is_1375060.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/charles-duhigg-1088_almost_it-s-an-open-secret-that-if-a-debtor-is_1375060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/charles-duhigg-1088_almost_it-s-an-open-secret-that-if-a-debtor-is_1375060.png) > “It's an open secret that if a debtor is willing to wait long enough, he can probably get away with paying almost nothing, as long as he doesn't mind hurting his credit score.” [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Delaying debt payments can reduce immediate burden but harms credit, limiting future financial options. **In simple terms:** Paying late hurts credit scores. Key Takeaway Balance short‑term relief with long‑term credit health. Themes finance credit debt decision‑making Mood cautious analytical Type advisory practical When to use this quote - loan repayment - credit card use - mortgage applications - budgeting Key Concepts risk management behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to risk future borrowing? - What alternatives exist for cash flow issues? A Different Perspective Credit damage can be hard to repair quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Almost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almost/) [Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away/) [Away Paying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-paying-732438/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Debtor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debtor/) [Debtor Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debtor-willing-4745130/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Hurting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting/) [Hurting Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting-credit-4745133/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open/) [Paying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying/) [Paying Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-long-4745131/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secret Debtor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-debtor-4745132/) [Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing to wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-to-wait/) ## Related quotes > [If you silence yourself, if you try to be good, if you try to be polite, or toe a party line, you end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-abu-jaber/if-you-silence-yourself-if-you-try-to-be-good-if-you-try-to-be-polite/) [Diana Abu-Jaber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-abu-jaber/) > [Our largest companies should not be able to get away with paying hardly anything at all. It is insulting when they engage in these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/our-largest-companies-should-not-be-able-to-get-away-with-paying/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We should make sure that nobody, no corporation, and no individual can get away without paying his fair share to support America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-should-make-sure-that-nobody-no-corporation-and-no-individual-can/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ Why do three-quarters of NATO \[countries\] get away with not paying anything? They have to pay their bills. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/why-do-three-quarters-of-nato-countries-get-away-with-not-paying/) [Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/) > [DEBT, n. An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave-driver. As, pent in an aquarium, the troutlet Swims round and round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/debt-n-an-ingenious-substitute-for-the-chain-and-whip-of-the-slave/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A small debt produces a debtor; a large one, an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/a-small-debt-produces-a-debtor-a-large-one-an-enemy/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Our country has tremendous problems. We're a debtor nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/our-country-has-tremendous-problems-we-re-a-debtor-nation/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I hold every man a debtor to his profession; from the which as men of course do seek to receive countenance and profit, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-hold-every-man-a-debtor-to-his-profession-from-the-which-as-men-of/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [People may live as much retired from the world as they like, but sooner or later they find themselves debtor or creditor to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/people-may-live-as-much-retired-from-the-world-as-they-like-but/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Every novel is a debtor to Homer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-novel-is-a-debtor-to-homer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People may live as much retired from the world as they please; but sooner or later, before they are aware, they will find themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/people-may-live-as-much-retired-from-the-world-as-they-please-but/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The world's largest debtor is a distinction of sorts, but not the one we like having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/the-world-s-largest-debtor-is-a-distinction-of-sorts-but-not-the-one/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [So long as there is a human being who does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor to serve him until he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/so-long-as-there-is-a-human-being-who-does-not-know-jesus-christ-i-am/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Not everyone is a debtor who wishes to be; not everyone who wishes makes creditors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/not-everyone-is-a-debtor-who-wishes-to-be-not-everyone-who-wishes/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [The creditor whose appearance gladdens the heart of a debtor may hold his head in sunbeams and his foot on storms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-creditor-whose-appearance-gladdens-the-heart-of-a-debtor-may-hold/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) ## More by Charles Duhigg > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) [Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## More Almost quotes > [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/) [Edward P. 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Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [Almost every Monday I have a charity thing. I like that. I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/almost-every-monday-i-have-a-charity-thing-i-like-that-i-do/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. 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I got on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/i-d-had-episodes-before-but-i-swept-them-under-the-carpet-this-time-i/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [I was hit by a car. I almost died. My show was taken away from me. 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