--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a little like developing the habit…" description: "\"“It is a little like developing the habit of stealing the test from your teacher’s desk instead of learning how to do the math.”\" — Josh Waitzkin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/josh-waitzkin-24153_habits_it-is-a-little-like-developing-the-habit_2254671.jpg" --- # It is a little like developing the habit of stealing the… ![“It is a little like developing the habit of stealing the test from your teacher’s desk instead of learning how to do the math.” quote by Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/josh-waitzkin-24153_habits_it-is-a-little-like-developing-the-habit_2254671.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/josh-waitzkin-24153_habits_it-is-a-little-like-developing-the-habit_2254671.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/josh-waitzkin-24153_habits_it-is-a-little-like-developing-the-habit_2254671.jpg) > ““It is a little like developing the habit of stealing the test from your teacher’s desk instead of learning how to do the math.”” [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning shortcuts undermine true understanding, like cheating on a test instead of mastering the material. **In simple terms:** Cheating prevents real learning. Key Takeaway Prioritize deep mastery over quick fixes. Themes learning integrity mastery Mood thoughtful instructive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - sports training - musical practice Key Concepts growth mindset skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How do you resist the temptation to shortcut? - What benefits come from mastering fundamentals? A Different Perspective Shortcuts may seem efficient but erode long‑term competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Developing Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-habit-3776984/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Habit Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-stealing-5164349/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Instead Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-learning-4130461/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Stealing Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing-test-5164348/) ## Related quotes > [Some of us have to learn the hard way and make our own mistakes instead of learning from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-us-have-to-learn-the-hard-way-and-make-our-own-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's important to us is developing the habit of playing harder than our opponent every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vogel/what-s-important-to-us-is-developing-the-habit-of-playing-harder-than/) [Frank Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vogel/) > [One of the most important principles of success is developing the habit of going the extra mile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/one-of-the-most-important-principles-of-success-is-developing-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“We need to remove the word failure from our vocabulary, replacing it instead with learning experience. To fail is to learn: we learn more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/we-need-to-remove-the-word-failure-from-our-vocabulary-replacing-it/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [a TEN-YEAR-OLD lad in Indianapolis who was arrested for picking up coal along the side of railroad tracks is now in jail. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/a-ten-year-old-lad-in-indianapolis-who-was-arrested-for-picking-up/) [Mother Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-jones/) > [Every now and then we could steal somebody else's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/every-now-and-then-we-could-steal-somebody-else-s-stuff/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“Well, make up your mind. I don’t have all night.” Fidelia set her beer on the porch and removed a set of keys from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/well-make-up-your-mind-i-don-t-have-all-night-fidelia-set-her-beer-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If some beggar steals a bridle he'll be hung by a man who's stolen a horse. There's no surer justice in the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peire-cardenal/if-some-beggar-steals-a-bridle-he-ll-be-hung-by-a-man-who-s-stolen-a/) [Peire Cardenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peire-cardenal/) > [All money represents theft… To steal from the rich is a sacred and religious act. 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