--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes a lot of devotion and work, or…" description: "\"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to I haven't found any shortcuts, and I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/chet-atkins-27820_amount_it-takes-a-lot-of-devotion-and-work-or-m_2525964.jpg" --- # It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say… ![“It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time.” quote by Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/chet-atkins-27820_amount_it-takes-a-lot-of-devotion-and-work-or-m_2525964.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/chet-atkins-27820_amount_it-takes-a-lot-of-devotion-and-work-or-m_2525964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/chet-atkins-27820_amount_it-takes-a-lot-of-devotion-and-work-or-m_2525964.jpg) > “It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time.” [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Devotion and play are essential; love turns work into joy, and shortcuts don’t exist. **In simple terms:** Love makes work feel like play; no shortcuts. Key Takeaway Embrace love for your craft. Themes passion work play dedication Mood reflective determined Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - career development - musical practice - creative projects - teaching - mentoring Key Concepts intrinsic motivation craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How can you sustain passion when faced with setbacks? - What small steps keep you engaged daily? A Different Perspective Even with love, external obstacles can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Devotion Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion-work-816358/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-love-987117/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Say Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-play-352699/) [Shortcuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcuts/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s when we stop and think that we rediscover the courage, wit, compassion, imagination, delight, frustration, discovery, and devotion that work can provoke—in short,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/it-s-when-we-stop-and-think-that-we-rediscover-the-courage-wit/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [Be creative. Don't be worried about what you are doing - one has to do many things - but do everything creatively, with devotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-creative-don-t-be-worried-about-what-you-are-doing-one-has-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Children don't say, “I had a hard day at school today; can I talk to you about it?” They say, “Will you play with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-j-cohen/children-don-t-say-i-had-a-hard-day-at-school-today-can-i-talk-to-you/) [Lawrence J. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-j-cohen/) > [“Why did you wish me milder? would you have me False to my nature? Rather say I play The man I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-did-you-wish-me-milder-would-you-have-me-false-to-my-nature/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [As that I went to say, No more were we at play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-that-i-went-to-say-no-more-were-we-at-play/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I say, play your own way. Don't play what the public want - you play what you want and let the public pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-say-play-your-own-way-don-t-play-what-the-public-want-you-play-what/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [Barca are Barca and I don't think you can say no to them. To play here is to realise a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/barca-are-barca-and-i-don-t-think-you-can-say-no-to-them-to-play-here/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [As a composer you want to tell musicians two completely contradictory things. You want to say, "Play exactly what I wrote, but bring your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-muhly/as-a-composer-you-want-to-tell-musicians-two-completely-contradictory/) [Nico Muhly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-muhly/) > [I'm ashamed to say the first play I saw at the Royal Court was mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/i-m-ashamed-to-say-the-first-play-i-saw-at-the-royal-court-was-mine/) [Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/) > [When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/when-they-start-the-game-they-don-t-yell-work-ball-they-say-play-ball/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [I'd like to one day be able to say, 'I was in more than one play on Broadway.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-lenox/i-d-like-to-one-day-be-able-to-say-i-was-in-more-than-one-play-on/) [Adriane Lenox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-lenox/) > [I'm sorry to say that no, I do not play the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-m-sorry-to-say-that-no-i-do-not-play-the-piano/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I will say I would much rather play someone who isn't the most spellbinding beautiful person because I am not that person and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-hope/i-will-say-i-would-much-rather-play-someone-who-isn-t-the-most/) [Charlotte Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-hope/) > [I always say if I play my best it's difficult to beat me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-always-say-if-i-play-my-best-it-s-difficult-to-beat-me/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [A lot of people say I do play like Carmelo Anthony. That's just a great saying of my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/a-lot-of-people-say-i-do-play-like-carmelo-anthony-that-s-just-a/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) ## More by Chet Atkins > [Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know or care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/years-from-now-after-i-m-gone-someone-will-listen-to-what-i-ve-done/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [Once you become predictable, no one's interested anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/once-you-become-predictable-no-one-s-interested-anymore/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [...Everyone has their own sound, and if you're heard enough, folks will come to recognize it. Style however, is a different thing. Try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/everyone-has-their-own-sound-and-if-you-re-heard-enough-folks-will/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [ The last song I recorded with \[Hank Williams, Sr.\] was "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." I remember thinking, "Hoss, you're not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/the-last-song-i-recorded-with-hank-williams-sr-was-i-ll-never-get-out/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [Do it again on the next verse, and people think you meant it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/do-it-again-on-the-next-verse-and-people-think-you-meant-it/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [I'll always be poor in my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/i-ll-always-be-poor-in-my-mind/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [Elvis changed the country music scene quite a bit; he almost put country music out of business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/elvis-changed-the-country-music-scene-quite-a-bit-he-almost-put/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [Ray Cummins is my good friend and one of the best finger pickers around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/ray-cummins-is-my-good-friend-and-one-of-the-best-finger-pickers/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [You want a little talent on that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/you-want-a-little-talent-on-that/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [Lenny Breau is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. I suppose he is a musician's musician. His knowledge of the instrument and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/lenny-breau-is-one-of-the-true-geniuses-of-the-guitar-i-suppose-he-is/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [There is a long history in country music of songs celebrating drinking and lamenting drinking. Country songs for the most part have always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/there-is-a-long-history-in-country-music-of-songs-celebrating/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/everything-i-ve-ever-done-was-out-of-fear-of-being-mediocre/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [When I was a little boy, I told my dad, 'When I grow up, I want to be a musician.' My dad said: 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-told-my-dad-when-i-grow-up-i-want-to-be-a/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [It took me 20 years to learn I couldn't tune too well. And by that time I was too rich to care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/it-took-me-20-years-to-learn-i-couldn-t-tune-too-well-and-by-that/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) > [A long apprenticeship is the most logical way to success. The only alternative is overnight stardom, but I can't give you a formula for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-atkins/a-long-apprenticeship-is-the-most-logical-way-to-success-the-only/) [Chet Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) [Explore all 20 Chet Atkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-atkins/) ## More Amount quotes > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. 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