--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once in a while a person does only one…" description: "\"Once in a while a person does only one thing in his whole life, and we'll talk about that later, but a lot of times there is repetition. I claim that l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/richard-hamming-14135_favors_once-in-a-while-a-person-does-only-one-t_2034646.jpg" --- # Once in a while a person does only one thing in his whole… ![“Once in a while a person does only one thing in his whole life, and we'll talk about that later, but a lot of times there is repetition. I claim that luck will not cover everything. And I will cite Pasteur who said, "Luck favors the prepared mind." And I think that says it the way I believe it.” quote by Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/richard-hamming-14135_favors_once-in-a-while-a-person-does-only-one-t_2034646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/richard-hamming-14135_favors_once-in-a-while-a-person-does-only-one-t_2034646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/richard-hamming-14135_favors_once-in-a-while-a-person-does-only-one-t_2034646.jpg) > “Once in a while a person does only one thing in his whole life, and we'll talk about that later, but a lot of times there is repetition. I claim that luck will not cover everything. And I will cite Pasteur who said, "Luck favors the prepared mind." And I think that says it the way I believe it.” [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that repeated effort and preparation matter more than chance; luck benefits those who are ready. **In simple terms:** Preparation beats luck. Key Takeaway Focus on building skills and consistency. Themes effort preparation luck Mood determined optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - research projects - personal growth - entrepreneurship Key Concepts probability skill development Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare to maximize opportunities? - What habits reduce reliance on luck? A Different Perspective Luck alone cannot compensate for lack of preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Claim Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-luck-3755325/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Luck Favors The Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck-favors-the-prepared-217443/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Prepared Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared-mind-733126/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Repetition Claim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repetition-claim-3755326/) [Said Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-luck-2799680/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [Luck favors the prepared mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/luck-favors-the-prepared-mind/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [“Then she turned her head and, before I could react, planted a kiss right on my mouth. I almost fell off the Harley. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/then-she-turned-her-head-and-before-i-could-react-planted-a-kiss/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Luck favors the prepared”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-keener/luck-favors-the-prepared/) [Catherine Keener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-keener/) > [“Luck favors the prepared." -Louis Pasteur . . . but actually for me, Edna from The Incredibles . At least I admitted it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gullickson/luck-favors-the-prepared-louis-pasteur-but-actually-for-me-edna-from/) [Mike Gullickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gullickson/) > [Chance favors the prepared mind. The more you practice, the luckier you become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/chance-favors-the-prepared-mind-the-more-you-practice-the-luckier-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favors only the prepared mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/did-you-ever-observe-to-whom-the-accidents-happen-chance-favors-only/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Louis Pasteur said, 'Chance favors the prepared mind.' If you're really engaged in the writing, you'll work yourself out of whatever jam you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/louis-pasteur-said-chance-favors-the-prepared-mind-if-you-re-really/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [In matters of observation chance favors only the prepared mind. (not literal translation) - Dan's les champs de observation le hasard ne favorise que…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/in-matters-of-observation-chance-favors-only-the-prepared-mind-not/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Chance favors the prepared mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/chance-favors-the-prepared-mind/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Inspiration is not purely passive, but does favor the prepared mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-barry-kaufman/inspiration-is-not-purely-passive-but-does-favor-the-prepared-mind/) [Scott Barry Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-barry-kaufman/) > [“A great view does not act like a silver bullet, embedding a new idea in the mind. Rather, what seems to happen is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/a-great-view-does-not-act-like-a-silver-bullet-embedding-a-new-idea/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Chance favors only the prepared mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/chance-favors-only-the-prepared-mind/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [ A well-prepared mind hopes in adversity and fears in prosperity. \[Lat., Sperat infestis, metuit secundis Alteram sortem, bene preparatum Pectus.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/a-well-prepared-mind-hopes-in-adversity-and-fears-in-prosperity-lat/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Pharmacology is benefited by the prepared mind. You need to know what you are looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/pharmacology-is-benefited-by-the-prepared-mind-you-need-to-know-what/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Louis Pasteur, the great scientist, said "chance favours the prepared mind", which is a posh way of saying 'do your homework', but it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/louis-pasteur-the-great-scientist-said-chance-favours-the-prepared/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) ## More by Richard Hamming > [Science is composed of laws which were originally based on a small, carefully selected set of observations, often not very accurately measured originally; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/science-is-composed-of-laws-which-were-originally-based-on-a-small/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Typing is no substitute for thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/typing-is-no-substitute-for-thinking/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Mathematics is an interesting intellectual sport but it should not be allowed to stand in the way of obtaining sensible information about physical processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/mathematics-is-an-interesting-intellectual-sport-but-it-should-not-be/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Given two people with exactly the same ability, the one person who manages day in and day out to get in one more hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/given-two-people-with-exactly-the-same-ability-the-one-person-who/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [“It is not easy to become an educated person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/it-is-not-easy-to-become-an-educated-person/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/the-purpose-of-computing-is-insight-not-numbers/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Mathematicians stand on each others' shoulders and computer scientists stand on each others' toes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/mathematicians-stand-on-each-others-shoulders-and-computer-scientists/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [What are the important problems of your field?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/what-are-the-important-problems-of-your-field/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [In mathematics we do not appeal to authority, but rather you are responsible for what you believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/in-mathematics-we-do-not-appeal-to-authority-but-rather-you-are/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Beware of finding what you're looking for. A favorite aphorism he often used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/beware-of-finding-what-you-re-looking-for-a-favorite-aphorism-he/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Mathematics is not merely an idle art form, it is an essential part of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/mathematics-is-not-merely-an-idle-art-form-it-is-an-essential-part-of/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Perhaps the central problem we face in all of computer science is how we are to get to the situation where we build on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/perhaps-the-central-problem-we-face-in-all-of-computer-science-is-how/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [One of the characteristics of successful scientists is having courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/one-of-the-characteristics-of-successful-scientists-is-having-courage/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [There are wavelengths that people cannot see, there are sounds that people cannot hear, and maybe computers have thoughts that people cannot think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/there-are-wavelengths-that-people-cannot-see-there-are-sounds-that/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [“The more you know, the more you learn; the more you learn, the more you can do; the more you can do, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/the-more-you-know-the-more-you-learn-the-more-you-learn-the-more-you/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) [Explore all 47 Richard Hamming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) ## More Favors quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. 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The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. 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All we need is to be aware that we have the same strength we had before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-difficult-to-rebuild-a-life-all-we-need-is-to-be-aware-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [True friends don't count favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friends-don-t-count-favors/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It favors the pain, that would leave me alone / or had the luck of the plot, in this wide world would have us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/it-favors-the-pain-that-would-leave-me-alone-or-had-the-luck-of-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Through learning we grow, becoming more than we were before, and in that sense learning is unselfish, because it results in the transformation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/through-learning-we-grow-becoming-more-than-we-were-before-and-in/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. If you wish to please, you will find it wiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-very-high-mind-to-which-gratitude-is-not-a-painful-sensation/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) [Browse all 1,799 Favors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once in a while a person does only one thing in his whole life, and we'll talk about that later, but a lot of times there is repetition. I claim that luck will not cover everything. 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