--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, I'm not terribly fast at my…" description: "\"You know, I'm not terribly fast at my times tables, because that's not what I think mathematics is about.\" — Marcus du Sautoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/marcus-du-sautoy-18436_about_you-know-i-m-not-terribly-fast-at-my-tim_41004.jpg" --- # You know, I'm not terribly fast at my times tables… ![“You know, I'm not terribly fast at my times tables, because that's not what I think mathematics is about.” quote by Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/marcus-du-sautoy-18436_about_you-know-i-m-not-terribly-fast-at-my-tim_41004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/marcus-du-sautoy-18436_about_you-know-i-m-not-terribly-fast-at-my-tim_41004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/marcus-du-sautoy-18436_about_you-know-i-m-not-terribly-fast-at-my-tim_41004.jpg) > “You know, I'm not terribly fast at my times tables, because that's not what I think mathematics is about.” [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mathematics is valued for conceptual insight and problem‑solving, not rote memorization of facts. **In simple terms:** Focus on understanding over memorization. Key Takeaway Understanding trumps speed. Themes education mathematics learning philosophy cognitive development Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - self‑study - exam preparation Key Concepts conceptual understanding critical thinking Practical Applications - curriculum design - study strategies Questions to Reflect On - How does memorization affect deeper comprehension? - What alternative methods foster mathematical intuition? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast/) [Fast times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-times/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [My time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-time/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) [Tables Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables-think-456005/) [Terribly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terribly/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-mathematics-456003/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times/) [Times Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times-tables-456004/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Today, for good or ill, people are thinking about many social problems from the standpoint of their own kitchen tables. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-people-think-mathematics-is-complicated-mathematics-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think that mathematics can benefit by acknowledging that the creation of good models is just as important as proving deep theorems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mumford/i-think-that-mathematics-can-benefit-by-acknowledging-that-the/) [David Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mumford/) > [I think that there is that special equation for everything, but I dont think our mathematics have evolved enough for us to even, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-smith/i-think-that-there-is-that-special-equation-for-everything-but-i-dont/) [Jaden Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-smith/) > [ The ones \[comedies\] that I always liked, whether it's Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, or Fast Times of Ridgemont High, they were all about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/the-ones-comedies-that-i-always-liked-whether-it-s-terms-of/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I wouldn't know who Michael Johnson was if he didn't run fast times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-wouldn-t-know-who-michael-johnson-was-if-he-didn-t-run-fast-times/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/all-i-need-are-some-tasty-waves-a-cool-buzz-and-i-m-fine/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [ \[ I watched \] Spicoli in Fast Times, which isn't exactly a stoner movie, or The Big Lebowski, which I think is more than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-watched-spicoli-in-fast-times-which-isn-t-exactly-a-stoner-movie-or/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [For me, I've not really focused on a world record. I'm just trying to put a complete race together, and when I do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-ann-fraser-pryce/for-me-i-ve-not-really-focused-on-a-world-record-i-m-just-trying-to/) [Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-ann-fraser-pryce/) > [My first film as an actor was 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' a glorious experience that spoiled me for future films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/my-first-film-as-an-actor-was-fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-a-glorious/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [When I did 'Fast Times,' I felt very close emotionally to the characters. I liked those characters because they all had to work, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-heckerling/when-i-did-fast-times-i-felt-very-close-emotionally-to-the-characters/) [Amy Heckerling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-heckerling/) > ['Fast Times At Ridgemont High' is one of my favorite movies; it's a film that's a human comedy, it's a drama, and the characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-trank/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-is-one-of-my-favorite-movies-it-s-a-film/) [Josh Trank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-trank/) ## More by Marcus du Sautoy > [We need scientists and mathematicians explaining why they are excited about their subjects but also why they are important for solving social problems, informing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/we-need-scientists-and-mathematicians-explaining-why-they-are-excited/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [The wonderful thing about maths is it's a totally logical subject, and a pathway has been marked out. I think a lot of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/the-wonderful-thing-about-maths-is-it-s-a-totally-logical-subject-and/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [If I'm flying to China, I can sit and think about a problem. Other scientists have to go to the lab. I'm always thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/if-i-m-flying-to-china-i-can-sit-and-think-about-a-problem-other/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [I think science is a foreign land for many people, so I think of my role as an ambassador's job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/i-think-science-is-a-foreign-land-for-many-people-so-i-think-of-my/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [“For any scientist the real challenge is not to stay within the secure garden of the known but to venture out into the wilds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/for-any-scientist-the-real-challenge-is-not-to-stay-within-the-secure/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [The reason why we do maths is because it's like poetry. It's about patterns, and that really turned me on. It made me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/the-reason-why-we-do-maths-is-because-it-s-like-poetry-it-s-about/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [“It does appear that some parts of our evolutionary process seem inevitable. It is striking that throughout evolutionary history, the eye evolved independently fifty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/it-does-appear-that-some-parts-of-our-evolutionary-process-seem/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [Rather than opera, football is more like ballet or a chess game. You can really see it in a team like Arsenal, especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/rather-than-opera-football-is-more-like-ballet-or-a-chess-game-you/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [When people ask me what my religion is, I say it's the Arsenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/when-people-ask-me-what-my-religion-is-i-say-it-s-the-arsenal/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [If you can make yourself symmetrical, you're sending out a sign that you've got good genes, you've got a good upbringing and therefore you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/if-you-can-make-yourself-symmetrical-you-re-sending-out-a-sign-that/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [I think my primary audience is in some sense an adult audience, because I think that will then have a knock-on effect for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/i-think-my-primary-audience-is-in-some-sense-an-adult-audience/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [It's my belief that you can take everyone down a logical path if you take them slowly enough, and the trouble is that mathematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/it-s-my-belief-that-you-can-take-everyone-down-a-logical-path-if-you/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [The best mobile phone had the best mathematician. They know how to fit a huge amount of data into a small amount of space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/the-best-mobile-phone-had-the-best-mathematician-they-know-how-to-fit/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [The stage is like a laboratory where you can run theatrical experiments, imposing interesting conditions on the cast or story and seeing how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/the-stage-is-like-a-laboratory-where-you-can-run-theatrical/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [“Some might question whether it makes sense to talk about setting up the experiment and running it again with exactly the same conditions--that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/some-might-question-whether-it-makes-sense-to-talk-about-setting-up/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) [Explore all 35 Marcus du Sautoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. 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