--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always tell people that this is a…" description: "\"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 right, then you can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/eliud-kipchoge-13861_free_i-always-tell-people-that-this-is-a-real_107227.jpg" --- # I always tell people that this is a really simple deal… ![“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 right, then you can really perform without taking shortcuts. If you're taking shortcuts, you can't be free.” quote by Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/eliud-kipchoge-13861_free_i-always-tell-people-that-this-is-a-real_107227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/eliud-kipchoge-13861_free_i-always-tell-people-that-this-is-a-real_107227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/eliud-kipchoge-13861_free_i-always-tell-people-that-this-is-a-real_107227.jpg) > “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 right, then you can really perform without taking shortcuts. If you're taking shortcuts, you can't be free.” [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work, disciplined priorities, and integrity create sustainable performance; shortcuts compromise freedom and long‑term success. **In simple terms:** Work hard, prioritize, avoid shortcuts. Key Takeaway Integrity in effort yields lasting freedom. Themes hard work integrity prioritization freedom Mood inspired determined Type coach philosophical When to use this quote - training for a marathon - building a startup - studying for a degree Key Concepts ethical labor goal setting Practical Applications - Create a step‑by‑step plan - Track progress against core tasks Questions to Reflect On - When is a shortcut ethically acceptable? - How do you balance speed with thoroughness? A Different Perspective In some contexts, strategic shortcuts can be efficient without harming integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Shortcuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcuts/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [I've found that taking shortcuts will get you to the place you don't want to be much quicker than they get u to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennox-lewis/i-ve-found-that-taking-shortcuts-will-get-you-to-the-place-you-don-t/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennox-lewis/) > [Give yourself permission to get the most out of your life. If you're spending all your time scrubbing corners with a toothbrush, you're kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lee/give-yourself-permission-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-life-if-you-re/) [Sandra Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lee/) > [There are no shortcuts. I approached practices the same way I approached games. You can't turn it on and off like a faucet. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/there-are-no-shortcuts-i-approached-practices-the-same-way-i/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [“There is no such thing a person can reach his or her goals by taking shortcuts because it is considered as one form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saaif-alam/there-is-no-such-thing-a-person-can-reach-his-or-her-goals-by-taking/) [Saaif Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saaif-alam/) > [I am sick of talking about What and Why I am doing. I have always believed that the WORK is the word. Action is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-am-sick-of-talking-about-what-and-why-i-am-doing-i-have-always/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I didn't take any shortcuts for my success, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-brodeur/i-didn-t-take-any-shortcuts-for-my-success-that-s-for-sure/) [Martin Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-brodeur/) > [The modern world’s tech-giddy control and facilitation makes us stupid. Awareness atrophies. Dumb gets dumber. Lists are everywhere – the five things you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-cohen/the-modern-world-s-tech-giddy-control-and-facilitation-makes-us/) [Roger Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-cohen/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 Eliud Kipchoge > [I'm confident to say that if you want to grow in a profession, consistency is the key... I'm strict about my work goals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-m-confident-to-say-that-if-you-want-to-grow-in-a-profession/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree-was-25-years-ago-the-second-best-time/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [If you have that belief - pure belief in your heart - that you want to be successful then you can talk to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/if-you-have-that-belief-pure-belief-in-your-heart-that-you-want-to-be/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [My mind is always free. My mind is flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/my-mind-is-always-free-my-mind-is-flexible/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I got into running when I was being mentored by my coach. I tried it and developed a passion for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-got-into-running-when-i-was-being-mentored-by-my-coach-i-tried-it/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I have only ever done athletics. I was only average at school and I have never done any other sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-have-only-ever-done-athletics-i-was-only-average-at-school-and-i/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [My first competition outside Kenya was at the 2002 world cross country championships in Dublin, Ireland. I finished fifth in the junior race that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/my-first-competition-outside-kenya-was-at-the-2002-world-cross/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I want to run with a relaxed mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-want-to-run-with-a-relaxed-mind/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [If you train with fast athletes, it keeps you pushing. I know that good preparation is more important than everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/if-you-train-with-fast-athletes-it-keeps-you-pushing-i-know-that-good/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [Vienna is a city where they love sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/vienna-is-a-city-where-they-love-sports/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I always say: a run in the morning is like eating a fruit a day - it chases he doctor away. It is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-always-say-a-run-in-the-morning-is-like-eating-a-fruit-a-day-it/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I think 1:59 is something a human being can run. Or 1:58. Who knows?! If someone trains very well and thinks in a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-think-1-59-is-something-a-human-being-can-run-or-1-58-who-knows-if/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [No human is limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/no-human-is-limited/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [I want to stay for a long time and leave a mark so the young generation can aspire to be at the top like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/i-want-to-stay-for-a-long-time-and-leave-a-mark-so-the-young/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [If you want to break through, your mind should be able to control your body. Your mind should be a part of your fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/if-you-want-to-break-through-your-mind-should-be-able-to-control-your/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) [Explore all 49 Eliud Kipchoge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) ## More Free quotes > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [If you love anything set it free unless it is a tiger..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshitij-roshan/if-you-love-anything-set-it-free-unless-it-is-a-tiger/) [Kshitij Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshitij-roshan/) > [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/) [Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Music is how I get free. 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