--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn…" description: "\"“I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn thing out–it would take me fifteen or twenty minutes. But during the day, other guys would come to me with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/864/richard-p-feynman-495_genius_i-wouldn-t-stop-until-i-figured-the-damn_1780032.png" --- # I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn thing out–it… ![“I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn thing out–it would take me fifteen or twenty minutes. But during the day, other guys would come to me with the same problem, and I’d do it for them in a flash. So for one guy, to do it took me twenty minutes, while there were five guys who thought I was a…” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/864/richard-p-feynman-495_genius_i-wouldn-t-stop-until-i-figured-the-damn_1780032.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/864/richard-p-feynman-495_genius_i-wouldn-t-stop-until-i-figured-the-damn_1780032.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/864/richard-p-feynman-495_genius_i-wouldn-t-stop-until-i-figured-the-damn_1780032.png) > ““I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn thing out–it would take me fifteen or twenty minutes. But during the day, other guys would come to me with the same problem, and I’d do it for them in a flash. So for one guy, to do it took me twenty minutes, while there were five guys who thought I was a super-genius.”” [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He solved problems quickly, then helped others solve the same issue instantly, leading them to view him as exceptionally brilliant. **In simple terms:** He solved problems fast and helped others, appearing genius. Key Takeaway Share knowledge quickly to amplify impact. Themes expertise mentorship perception humility efficiency Mood proud reflective Type inspirational educational humorous When to use this quote - teaching - collaborative work - rapid troubleshooting Key Concepts problem solving knowledge transfer confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How does rapid assistance affect others’ learning? - When does appearing as a genius become a barrier? A Different Perspective Speed can mask the effort behind expertise, creating unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Five Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-guys/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Guys Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-thought-1854584/) [Minutes Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes-guys-1854583/) [Super Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/super-genius-1854582/) [Took Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-minutes-627549/) ## Related quotes > [“People think it’sfun to be a super genius, but they don’t realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots.” -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharma-hazari/people-think-it-sfun-to-be-a-super-genius-but-they-don-t-realize-how/) [Dharma Hazari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharma-hazari/) > [“For a super-genius, you can be pretty stupid sometimes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bentz/for-a-super-genius-you-can-be-pretty-stupid-sometimes/) [Emily Bentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bentz/) > [Every one of you is a super genius if you just focus your common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-goldratt/every-one-of-you-is-a-super-genius-if-you-just-focus-your-common-sense/) [Eliyahu Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-goldratt/) > [People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/people-think-it-must-be-fun-to-be-a-super-genius-but-they-don-t/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [The inventor, the man with a unique, specialized talent, is the only real super-genius. But he is so rare that he needs no consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/the-inventor-the-man-with-a-unique-specialized-talent-is-the-only/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [There's some guys whom you never thought would go back to WWE because of what they've said in the past or the drama that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-kanellis/there-s-some-guys-whom-you-never-thought-would-go-back-to-wwe-because/) [Maria Kanellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-kanellis/) > [A lot of guys thought I'd bow down to them, but I wasn't like that. I was just trying to play football and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weddle/a-lot-of-guys-thought-i-d-bow-down-to-them-but-i-wasn-t-like-that-i/) [Eric Weddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weddle/) > [“They wore the uniform of the desert bro. Think frat boy who never went to college. Jersey Shore without the water. Farmer’s tans made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/they-wore-the-uniform-of-the-desert-bro-think-frat-boy-who-never-went/) [Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/) > [Make more than the guys you thought you wanted to be with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardi-b/make-more-than-the-guys-you-thought-you-wanted-to-be-with/) [Cardi B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardi-b/) > [“And it's funny because it was my grandpa who painted it shut (window) in the first place, and he had a whole storage shed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-it-s-funny-because-it-was-my-grandpa-who-painted-it-shut-window/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [When I was meeting people in L.A., guys always thought if they paid for dinner, they deserved a blow job. But generally, I'll say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/when-i-was-meeting-people-in-l-a-guys-always-thought-if-they-paid-for/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Space is so close: It took only eight minutes to get there and twenty to get back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wubbo-ockels/space-is-so-close-it-took-only-eight-minutes-to-get-there-and-twenty/) [Wubbo Ockels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wubbo-ockels/) > [“Unlike the drop-off, pickup was more chaotic and time consuming, and it took twenty minutes before London finally got in the car.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/unlike-the-drop-off-pickup-was-more-chaotic-and-time-consuming-and-it/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Well, I would have struck him, but I would have had to get up. You have no notion how difficult it is to arrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-novik/well-i-would-have-struck-him-but-i-would-have-had-to-get-up-you-have/) [Naomi Novik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-novik/) > [It took five minutes for them to get their smush on. No wonder Sam never smiles. -Pauly D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jersey-shore/it-took-five-minutes-for-them-to-get-their-smush-on-no-wonder-sam/) [Jersey Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jersey-shore/) ## More by Richard P. Feynman > [“Philosophers have said before that one of the fundamental requisites of science is that whenever you set up the same conditions, the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/philosophers-have-said-before-that-one-of-the-fundamental-requisites/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [My rule is, when you are unhappy, think about it. But when you're happy, don't. Why spoil it? You're probably happy for some ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/my-rule-is-when-you-are-unhappy-think-about-it-but-when-you-re-happy/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Trying to understand the way nature works involves a most terrible test of human reasoning ability. It involves subtle trickery, beautiful tightropes of logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/trying-to-understand-the-way-nature-works-involves-a-most-terrible/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Today's brains are yesterday's mashed potatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/today-s-brains-are-yesterday-s-mashed-potatoes/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is a language plus reasoning; it is like a language plus logic. Mathematics is a tool for reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-a-language-plus-reasoning-it-is-like-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [It is necessary for the very existence of science that minds exist which do not allow that nature must satisfy some preconceived conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/it-is-necessary-for-the-very-existence-of-science-that-minds-exist/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There was a Princess Somebody of Denmark sitting at a table with a number of people around her, and I saw an empty chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-was-a-princess-somebody-of-denmark-sitting-at-a-table-with-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,'--which is just another way of saying that you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/all-the-time-you-re-saying-to-yourself-i-could-do-that-but-i-won-t/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There's a big difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-s-a-big-difference-between-knowing-the-name-of-something-and/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The fact that you are not sure means that it is possible that there is another way someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fact-that-you-are-not-sure-means-that-it-is-possible-that-there/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [You can always recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-can-always-recognize-truth-by-its-beauty-and-simplicity/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [One cannot understand... the universality of laws of nature, the relationship of things, without an understanding of mathematics. There is no other way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/one-cannot-understand-the-universality-of-laws-of-nature-the/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is not just a language. Mathematics is a language plus reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-not-just-a-language-mathematics-is-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [A poet once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." We will probably never know in what sense he meant that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/a-poet-once-said-the-whole-universe-is-in-a-glass-of-wine-we-will/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I was a very shy character, always feeling uncomfortable because everybody was stronger than I, and always afraid I would look like a sissy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-was-a-very-shy-character-always-feeling-uncomfortable-because/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) [Explore all 515 Richard P. Feynman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## More Genius quotes > [“If people fully understand you, they will think of you as a normal, if they half understand you, will think of you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-people-fully-understand-you-they-will-think-of-you-as-a-normal-if/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Never try to judge any one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/never-try-to-judge-any-one/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [“genius is a path that we can all take and derive much benefit, happiness, fulfillment, and success from...not a genetic windfall or divine gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/genius-is-a-path-that-we-can-all-take-and-derive-much-benefit/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) [Browse all 5,125 Genius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn thing out–it would take me fifteen or twenty minutes. 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