--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He'd met other prodigies in mathematical…" description: "\"“He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In fact he'd been thoroughly trounced by competitors who probably spent literally all day pract..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_competitors_he-d-met-other-prodigies-in-mathematical_1627460.png" --- # He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In… ![“He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In fact he'd been thoroughly trounced by competitors who probably spent literally all day practising maths problems and who'd never read a science-fiction book and who would burn out completely before puberty and never amount to anything in…” quote by Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_competitors_he-d-met-other-prodigies-in-mathematical_1627460.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_competitors_he-d-met-other-prodigies-in-mathematical_1627460.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_competitors_he-d-met-other-prodigies-in-mathematical_1627460.png) > ““He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In fact he'd been thoroughly trounced by competitors who probably spent literally all day practising maths problems and who'd never read a science-fiction book and who would burn out completely before puberty and never amount to anything in their future lives because they'd just practised known techniques instead of learning to think creatively. (Harry was something of a sore loser.)”” [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying solely on practiced techniques stifles creative thinking, leading to early burnout and limited future potential. **In simple terms:** Only practicing known methods limits growth. Key Takeaway Balance practice with creative exploration. Themes education creativity competition burnout future potential Mood thoughtful encouraging Type educational motivational When to use this quote - math contests - academic study - career planning - personal development Key Concepts cognitive psychology learning theory skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster creativity while training? - What new approaches could you try? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on practice can cause stress and narrow thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Sore Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sore-loser/) ## Related quotes > [He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In fact he'd been thoroughly trounced by competitors who probably spent literally all day practising maths problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/he-d-met-other-prodigies-in-mathematical-competitions-in-fact-he-d/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Practising maths can be fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-riley/practising-maths-can-be-fun/) [Rachel Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-riley/) > [I am a sore loser. I will be the first to admit that. When I get on video games I am not that good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/i-am-a-sore-loser-i-will-be-the-first-to-admit-that-when-i-get-on/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [You're being a sore loser, just be humble. Don't prove everyone right...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-being-a-sore-loser-just-be-humble-don-t-prove-everyone-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I go in to fight week, I go, 'Maybe I'm going to be that guy on the highlight reel that gets knocked out.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ortega/when-i-go-in-to-fight-week-i-go-maybe-i-m-going-to-be-that-guy-on-the/) [Brian Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ortega/) > [My career is a burden, but I can't just fade out like a pathetic sore loser. More often than not, I'm just making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/my-career-is-a-burden-but-i-can-t-just-fade-out-like-a-pathetic-sore/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [I am a sore loser. It's not that I'm so competitive with others. But I'm competitive with myself. I like to do better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/i-am-a-sore-loser-it-s-not-that-i-m-so-competitive-with-others-but-i/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Never met a winner that wasn't a sore loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-met-a-winner-that-wasn-t-a-sore-loser/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let's have a who's better in bed contest. I'm hoping to be a sore loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-s-have-a-who-s-better-in-bed-contest-i-m-hoping-to-be-a-sore-loser/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be a sore loser. You can't always win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-a-sore-loser-you-can-t-always-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I played sports, if you lose the game, and then you complain, that makes you a sore loser. That doesn't make you protester…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/when-i-played-sports-if-you-lose-the-game-and-then-you-complain-that/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [“God is a sore loser. Me and him made a bet, and when he lost, he refused to pay up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/god-is-a-sore-loser-me-and-him-made-a-bet-and-when-he-lost-he-refused/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [“Don’t be a sore loser.’ ‘It’s hard to argue with a woman when she’s got her knee on my ego.’ ‘Good. Now I’m going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/don-t-be-a-sore-loser-it-s-hard-to-argue-with-a-woman-when-she-s-got/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [Can't stand a sore loser. Can't stand people who blame everyone else for THEIR mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/can-t-stand-a-sore-loser-can-t-stand-people-who-blame-everyone-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody likes a sore loser…or any kind of loser for that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-likes-a-sore-loser-or-any-kind-of-loser-for-that-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Eliezer Yudkowsky > [“But I really am Ravenclaw, you know, not Slytherin. I don't want to rule the universe. I just think it could be more sensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/but-i-really-am-ravenclaw-you-know-not-slytherin-i-don-t-want-to-rule/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“I am not sure how to explain it, except that - truth matters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-am-not-sure-how-to-explain-it-except-that-truth-matters-to-us/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I see little hope for democracy as an effective form of government, but I admire the poetry of how it makes its victims complicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-see-little-hope-for-democracy-as-an-effective-form-of-government/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“He really really really shouldn't have done that. Amazing how much more obvious that became one second after it was too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/he-really-really-really-shouldn-t-have-done-that-amazing-how-much/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make-lightning-flash-in-the/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“There’s a technique we use in our local rationalist cluster called “Is That Your True Rejection?”, and it works like this: Before you stake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/there-s-a-technique-we-use-in-our-local-rationalist-cluster-called-is/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Knowing that Draco's hopeful face had probably been drilled into him by months of practice did not make it any less effective, Harry observed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/knowing-that-draco-s-hopeful-face-had-probably-been-drilled-into-him/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-strength-of-a-theory-is-not-what-it-allows-but-what-it-prohibits/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [It is triple ultra forbidden to respond to criticism with violence. There are a very few injunctions in the human art of rationality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/it-is-triple-ultra-forbidden-to-respond-to-criticism-with-violence/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The human species was not born into a market economy. Bees won't sell you honey if you offer them an electronic funds transfer. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-human-species-was-not-born-into-a-market-economy-bees-won-t-sell/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Frigideiro! " said Hermione again from the desk next to him. Her water was solid ice and there were white crystals forming on the rim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/frigideiro-said-hermione-again-from-the-desk-next-to-him-her-water/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And then Harry Potter had launched in to a speech that was inspiring, yet vague. A speech to the effect that Fred and George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-then-harry-potter-had-launched-in-to-a-speech-that-was-inspiring/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And I know that I'd just make myself unhappy by comparing that reality to... something perfect that I built up in my imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-i-know-that-i-d-just-make-myself-unhappy-by-comparing-that/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) [Explore all 274 Eliezer Yudkowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## More Competitors quotes > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Sports have always been a huge part of my life and my conversations. It is a thrill and an honor to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/sports-have-always-been-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-my-conversations/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-coercive-monopoly-was-created-by-government-intervention-into/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [As they grow, companies saturate their markets, become more complex and difficult to manage, and face larger and more entrenched competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/as-they-grow-companies-saturate-their-markets-become-more-complex-and/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [If you want to gain market share at your competitor's expense - look for a customer that's suffering from too much complexity and simplify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cohan/if-you-want-to-gain-market-share-at-your-competitor-s-expense-look/) Peter Cohan > [I learn from all our major competitors, whether they're in or out of the U.S. Wells Fargo is very actively, very aggressively, and very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-learn-from-all-our-major-competitors-whether-they-re-in-or-out-of/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Many manufacturers secretly question whether advertising really sells their product, but are vaguely afraid that their competitors might steal a march on them if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/many-manufacturers-secretly-question-whether-advertising-really-sells/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [I've got to know my strength and weaknesses and the same for my competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-buchanan/i-ve-got-to-know-my-strength-and-weaknesses-and-the-same-for-my/) [Caroline Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-buchanan/) > [As a competitor and an athlete, you love that you get to go back and challenge someone, especially the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/as-a-competitor-and-an-athlete-you-love-that-you-get-to-go-back-and/) [Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/) > [We can never have too much preparation and training. We must be a strong competitor. We must adhere staunchly to the basic principle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bunche/we-can-never-have-too-much-preparation-and-training-we-must-be-a/) [Ralph Bunche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bunche/) > [Even in the face of massive competition, don't think about the competition. Literally don't think about them. Every time you're in a meeting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/even-in-the-face-of-massive-competition-don-t-think-about-the/) [Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/) > [In the United States businessmen often do not trust their colleagues. If you trust your colleague today, he may be your competitor tomorrow, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/in-the-united-states-businessmen-often-do-not-trust-their-colleagues/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) > [We're not competitor obsessed, we're customer obsessed. We start with the customer and we work backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/we-re-not-competitor-obsessed-we-re-customer-obsessed-we-start-with/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) Browse all 613 Competitors quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In fact he'd been thoroughly trounced by competitors who probably spent literally all day practising maths problems and who'd never read a science-fiction book and who would burn out completely before puberty and never amount to anything in their future lives because they'd just practised known techniques instead of learning to think creatively. 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