--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals…" description: "\"Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to get the fundamentals down because otherwise the fancy stuff isn’t going to work.\" — Randy Pausch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png" --- # Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to… ![“Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to get the fundamentals down because otherwise the fancy stuff isn’t going to work.” quote by Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png) > “Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to get the fundamentals down because otherwise the fancy stuff isn’t going to work.” [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastering basics is essential; without them, advanced techniques fail. **In simple terms:** Fundamentals are the foundation for success. Key Takeaway Focus on core skills first. Themes education skill development foundation Mood inspirational practical Type educational motivational When to use this quote - learning new subjects - skill training - professional development Key Concepts fundamentals learning hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What fundamentals do you need to strengthen? - How can you balance basics with innovation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on basics can hinder creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Fundamentals Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals-fancy-2632492/) [Fundamentals Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals-fundamentals-6003555/) [Fundamentals Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals-ve-6003556/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Got Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-fundamentals-2632493/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) ## Related quotes > [“You've got to get the fundamentals down, because otherwise the fancy stuff is not going to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/you-ve-got-to-get-the-fundamentals-down-because-otherwise-the-fancy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I hate when somebody says, "This may not work." You'll never get anywhere with that. I've pushed a lot of people out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/i-hate-when-somebody-says-this-may-not-work-you-ll-never-get-anywhere/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [We're facing growing climate change, more floods, more droughts, more crisis on a planetary level, and the systems we put in place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-re-facing-growing-climate-change-more-floods-more-droughts-more/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I think... you know, collaboration, in general - no matter movies, television or Broadway - is offering of what you can bring to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chenoweth/i-think-you-know-collaboration-in-general-no-matter-movies-television/) [Kristin Chenoweth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-chenoweth/) > [If somebody is considering being willing to go out and work in the field in global health, those are a particular class of heroes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-somebody-is-considering-being-willing-to-go-out-and-work-in-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [If you know you're supported, you're going to work harder, you're going to be more focused on your mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/if-you-know-you-re-supported-you-re-going-to-work-harder-you-re-going/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [Even the greatest actors have had dry spells where they've wondered if they were going to work again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-walker/even-the-greatest-actors-have-had-dry-spells-where-they-ve-wondered/) [Benjamin Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-walker/) > [Although it's pretty rare that I'll get completed, finished lyrics to a song and feel like it's done, and then decide that it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-britt-daniel/although-it-s-pretty-rare-that-i-ll-get-completed-finished-lyrics-to/) [John Britt Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-britt-daniel/) > [I can't cultivate a relationship with my child if it's between takes. I tried that on a movie and realized, 'This is not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-heigl/i-can-t-cultivate-a-relationship-with-my-child-if-it-s-between-takes/) [Katherine Heigl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-heigl/) > [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I'll joke all day, but once I get in the gym, I'm going to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/i-ll-joke-all-day-but-once-i-get-in-the-gym-i-m-going-to-work-hard/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [When you hire me, you hire a nut who is going to work 24 hours a day for you and never, ever burn his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/when-you-hire-me-you-hire-a-nut-who-is-going-to-work-24-hours-a-day/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [In my heart of hearts, I know that whatever I do is going to have integrity, and I'm going to work really hard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-my-heart-of-hearts-i-know-that-whatever-i-do-is-going-to-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## More by Randy Pausch > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I was hugely impressed... was the ultimate example of a man who knew what he didn't know, was perfectly willing to admit it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-was-hugely-impressed-was-the-ultimate-example-of-a-man-who-knew/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's nothing about my life that I would have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-nothing-about-my-life-that-i-would-have-changed/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Complaining does not work as a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/complaining-does-not-work-as-a-strategy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People are more important than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/people-are-more-important-than-things/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Anyone who knows me well will tell you that arrogance is one of my flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/anyone-who-knows-me-well-will-tell-you-that-arrogance-is-one-of-my/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Chemo days make me tired, though it's hard to say that's because of the chemo when you have kids who have inherited their dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/chemo-days-make-me-tired-though-it-s-hard-to-say-that-s-because-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [And even though I did not reach the National Football League, I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/and-even-though-i-did-not-reach-the-national-football-league-i/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Explore all 347 Randy Pausch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More Fancy quotes > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [My mind shrank from the menace sweeping down on us, as children's do from belief in death and misfortune, vainly clinging to the fancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-pankhurst/my-mind-shrank-from-the-menace-sweeping-down-on-us-as-children-s-do/) [Sylvia Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-pankhurst/) > ['Sex and The City' was made to correct the myth that if you were single at a certain age, you were a leper. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-patrick-king/sex-and-the-city-was-made-to-correct-the-myth-that-if-you-were-single/) [Michael Patrick King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-patrick-king/) > [There is no science without fancy and no art without fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/there-is-no-science-without-fancy-and-no-art-without-fact/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Sometimes instinct isn't fancy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-instinct-isn-t-fancy/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [When we idealize the real, we sacrifice to artistic fancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fuseli/when-we-idealize-the-real-we-sacrifice-to-artistic-fancy/) [Henry Fuseli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fuseli/) > [For now, I'm supposing that all movements are equal, which they're not, except in this respect: that none of them gives a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/for-now-i-m-supposing-that-all-movements-are-equal-which-they-re-not/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [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/) > [If I am ever obscure in my expressions, do not fancy that therefore I am deep. If I were really deep, all the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/if-i-am-ever-obscure-in-my-expressions-do-not-fancy-that-therefore-i/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Poetical taste is the only magician whose wand is not broken. No hand, except its own, can dissolve the fabric of beauty in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/poetical-taste-is-the-only-magician-whose-wand-is-not-broken-no-hand/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [The criterion of true beauty is, that it increases in examination; of false, that it lessens. There is something, therefore, in true beauty that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-grenville/the-criterion-of-true-beauty-is-that-it-increases-in-examination-of/) [George Grenville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-grenville/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [My friend told me he was going to a fancy dress party as an Italian island. I said to him, ‘Don’t be Sicily’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/my-friend-told-me-he-was-going-to-a-fancy-dress-party-as-an-italian/) [Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [If you're feeling fancy free, come wander through the world with me, and any place we chance to be, will be a rendezvous. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/if-you-re-feeling-fancy-free-come-wander-through-the-world-with-me/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) [Browse all 1,452 Fancy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to get the fundamentals down because otherwise the fancy stuff isn’t going to work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randy Pausch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-you-ve-got-to-get-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fancy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-you-ve-got-to-get-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/randy-pausch-842_fancy_fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-y_2399378.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to get the fundamentals down because otherwise the…” — Randy Pausch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Randy Pausch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. You’ve got to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-you-ve-got-to-get-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/fundamentals-fundamentals-fundamentals-you-ve-got-to-get-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```