--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After years of finding mathematics easy…" description: "\"After years of finding mathematics easy, I finally reached integral calculus and came up against a barrier. I realized that this was as far as I could ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/isaac-asimov-309_barriers_after-years-of-finding-mathematics-easy_3079201.jpg" --- # After years of finding mathematics easy, I finally reached… ![“After years of finding mathematics easy, I finally reached integral calculus and came up against a barrier. I realized that this was as far as I could go, and to this day I have never successfully gone beyond it in any but the most superficial way.” quote by Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/isaac-asimov-309_barriers_after-years-of-finding-mathematics-easy_3079201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/isaac-asimov-309_barriers_after-years-of-finding-mathematics-easy_3079201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/isaac-asimov-309_barriers_after-years-of-finding-mathematics-easy_3079201.jpg) > “After years of finding mathematics easy, I finally reached integral calculus and came up against a barrier. I realized that this was as far as I could go, and to this day I have never successfully gone beyond it in any but the most superficial way.” [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even with talent, some subjects become barriers that are hard to surpass without new approaches. **In simple terms:** Math can become a barrier despite ease; new methods needed. Key Takeaway Seek new strategies when encountering a mental block. Themes learning perseverance math Mood determined reflective Type motivational educational When to use this quote - study groups - tutoring - online courses - practice problems Key Concepts cognitive limits growth mindset problem solving Questions to Reflect On - What new method could help you overcome this barrier? - How can you turn a barrier into a learning opportunity? A Different Perspective Relying solely on intuition may prevent deeper understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barrier Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrier-realized-5244831/) [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Calculus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculus/) [Calculus Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculus-came-5244830/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Finally Reached](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finally-reached-403286/) [Finding Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-mathematics-5244832/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Integral calculus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integral-calculus/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Reached Integral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reached-integral-5244829/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) [Superficial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superficial/) [This day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-day/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [After what seemed like an eternity, we finally reached the summit just as the sun was rising. 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Finding myself as an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-think-that-i-finally-reached-the-pinnacle-finding-myself-as-an/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [“And now it is time for my story to end, because we have finally reached the beginning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-flohr/and-now-it-is-time-for-my-story-to-end-because-we-have-finally/) [Caroline Flohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-flohr/) > [“The vast wasteland of television programming had finally reached its zenith, and the average person was no longer limited to fifteen minutes of fame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/the-vast-wasteland-of-television-programming-had-finally-reached-its/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [I finally reached the point where I knew I had to become involved or shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/i-finally-reached-the-point-where-i-knew-i-had-to-become-involved-or/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [It's neat to have finally reached a point where I can accept what I was and what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-ian/it-s-neat-to-have-finally-reached-a-point-where-i-can-accept-what-i/) [Janis Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-ian/) > [I've finally reached a stage in my career where I can do what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-ve-finally-reached-a-stage-in-my-career-where-i-can-do-what-i-want/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Those interested in celestial navigation are advised to first obtain a rudimentary knowledge of integral calculus, phlebotomy, astral physics and related subjects. The use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/those-interested-in-celestial-navigation-are-advised-to-first-obtain/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [The effects of heat are subject to constant laws which cannot be discovered without the aid of mathematical analysis. The object of the theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fourier/the-effects-of-heat-are-subject-to-constant-laws-which-cannot-be/) [Joseph Fourier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fourier/) > [The chief difficulty of modern theoretical physics resides not in the fact that it expresses itself almost exclusively in mathematical symbols, but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-green/the-chief-difficulty-of-modern-theoretical-physics-resides-not-in-the/) [Celia Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-green/) > [Every one who understands the subject will agree that even the basis on which the scientific explanation of nature rests is intelligible only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-klein/every-one-who-understands-the-subject-will-agree-that-even-the-basis/) [Felix Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-klein/) > [I never failed in mathematics. Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-never-failed-in-mathematics-before-i-was-fifteen-i-had-mastered/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I am the very model of a modern major general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-am-the-very-model-of-a-modern-major-general/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) ## More by Isaac Asimov > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You'd better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-the-universe-is-not-quite-as-you-thought-it-was-you-d-better/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-in-meeting-the-great-tests-that-mankind-can-most-successfully/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“It might seem to you, Peter, that a truck driver, one step above an ape in your view, can't remember. But truck drivers can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-might-seem-to-you-peter-that-a-truck-driver-one-step-above-an-ape/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [When life is so harsh that a man loses all hope in himself, then he raises his eyes to a shining rock, worshipping it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/when-life-is-so-harsh-that-a-man-loses-all-hope-in-himself-then-he/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“temperatura constante de mais ou menos 21 graus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/temperatura-constante-de-mais-ou-menos-21-graus/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-robot-for-it-doesn-t-matter-how/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. \[The Second Law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-robot-must-obey-the-orders-given-it-by-human-beings-except-where/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) [Explore all 671 Isaac Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More Barriers quotes > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The gear you can't afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has very little to do with photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-jarvis/the-gear-you-can-t-afford-is-not-the-barrier-keeping-you-from-success/) [Chase Jarvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-jarvis/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-biggest-obstacles-to-our-progress-exist-within-our-own-lives-in/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I feel that there are a few things in the world without cultural barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-feel-that-there-are-a-few-things-in-the-world-without-cultural/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I've cosponsored legislation to establish a lend-lease program to simplify bureaucratic barriers and allow a speedier transfer of U.S. military equipment to Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/i-ve-cosponsored-legislation-to-establish-a-lend-lease-program-to/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. 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And a drop cannot be greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/what-do-you-have-to-surrender-a-drop-has-to-dissolve-into-the-ocean/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [“One way to generate a precise customer value proposition is to think about the four most common barriers keeping people from getting particular jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-johnson/one-way-to-generate-a-precise-customer-value-proposition-is-to-think/) [Mark W. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-johnson/) [Browse all 1,191 Barriers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After years of finding mathematics easy, I finally reached integral calculus and came up against a barrier. 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