--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a piece of cake, being a lawyer or a…" description: "\"“It's a piece of cake, being a lawyer or a doctor or a computer systems analyst or an accountant. Libraries are full of books telling you how to do it...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/val-mcdermid-13650_computers_it-s-a-piece-of-cake-being-a-lawyer-or-a_1921426.jpg" --- # It's a piece of cake, being a lawyer or a doctor or a… ![“It's a piece of cake, being a lawyer or a doctor or a computer systems analyst or an accountant. Libraries are full of books telling you how to do it. The only textbooks for private eyes are on fiction shelves, and I don't remember ever reading one that told me how to interrogate an eight-year old…” quote by Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/val-mcdermid-13650_computers_it-s-a-piece-of-cake-being-a-lawyer-or-a_1921426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/val-mcdermid-13650_computers_it-s-a-piece-of-cake-being-a-lawyer-or-a_1921426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/val-mcdermid-13650_computers_it-s-a-piece-of-cake-being-a-lawyer-or-a_1921426.jpg) > ““It's a piece of cake, being a lawyer or a doctor or a computer systems analyst or an accountant. Libraries are full of books telling you how to do it. The only textbooks for private eyes are on fiction shelves, and I don't remember ever reading one that told me how to interrogate an eight-year old without feeling like I was auditioning for the Gestapo.”” [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional expertise is widely taught, but investigative skills are rarely covered in formal education. **In simple terms:** Books teach many jobs, but not investigative tactics. Key Takeaway Seek practical experience beyond textbooks. Themes law investigation education Mood curious critical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - law enforcement training - private investigation - journalism - forensic science Key Concepts crime solving knowledge gaps self‑directed learning Questions to Reflect On - What informal resources can fill investigative skill gaps? - How to balance theory with practice ethically? A Different Perspective Reliance on self‑learning may lead to ethical pitfalls. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Piece of cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piece-of-cake/) ## Related quotes > [“We interrogate the world by making.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/we-interrogate-the-world-by-making/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [In a sense I am able to interrogate myself, address myself from that slight distance and enter a kind of dialogical relationship with myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/in-a-sense-i-am-able-to-interrogate-myself-address-myself-from-that/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I would never interrogate a child or a spouse the way I would a litigant. People wouldn't want to be around you. You'd wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-would-never-interrogate-a-child-or-a-spouse-the-way-i-would-a/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [“It is a terrible thing to interrogate the shadow. Who knows what its reply will be?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-interrogate-the-shadow-who-knows-what-its/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“I’m bored of this. I want to hear about you. Favorite color. Go.” I laugh. “Green.” “I’m green!” “Fuck yeah you are.” “Why are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-moskowitz/i-m-bored-of-this-i-want-to-hear-about-you-favorite-color-go-i-laugh/) [Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-moskowitz/) > [No one can master the past; one can only interrogate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-s-maier/no-one-can-master-the-past-one-can-only-interrogate-it/) [Charles S. Maier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-s-maier/) > [There's a big part of me that would love to be a secret agent. But if I showed up to do an investigation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/there-s-a-big-part-of-me-that-would-love-to-be-a-secret-agent-but-if/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [“I spend all my time trying to capture the moment. And when I do, I'll interrogate and torture it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-spend-all-my-time-trying-to-capture-the-moment-and-when-i-do-i-ll/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [For me, a poem is an opportunity to kind of interrogate myself a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-k-smith/for-me-a-poem-is-an-opportunity-to-kind-of-interrogate-myself-a/) [Tracy K. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-k-smith/) > [Interrogate yours hidden assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/interrogate-yours-hidden-assumptions/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [In the beginning, I was put off by the harshness of German. Someone would order a piece of cake, and it sounded as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-the-beginning-i-was-put-off-by-the-harshness-of-german-someone/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Once you give up your integrity, the rest is a piece of cake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ewing/once-you-give-up-your-integrity-the-rest-is-a-piece-of-cake/) J.R. Ewing > [When a little girl puts her energy to give her dad a kiss...Thats Love.When a wife makes tea for her husband & take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-little-girl-puts-her-energy-to-give-her-dad-a-kiss-thats-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Finding a cure for anorexia should be a piece of cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-elba/finding-a-cure-for-anorexia-should-be-a-piece-of-cake/) [Charles Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-elba/) > [I don't ever try to sound like, 'it's a piece of cake. Be chaste 'til your married.' But you strive and battle. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-don-t-ever-try-to-sound-like-it-s-a-piece-of-cake-be-chaste-til/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) ## More by Val McDermid > [“I told her you were probably here'. 'Thanks,' Tony said. 'Did I mention she thinks her brother's murder is my fault?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/i-told-her-you-were-probably-here-thanks-tony-said-did-i-mention-she/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Around five-eight, slim, good shoulders, narrow hips, legs and trunk in proportion, short dark hair, side parting, dark eyes, probably blue, shadows under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/around-five-eight-slim-good-shoulders-narrow-hips-legs-and-trunk-in/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“I failed her. And she's out of my life. I don't even know where she's living. What she's doing to get through the days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/i-failed-her-and-she-s-out-of-my-life-i-don-t-even-know-where-she-s/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her pay the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an-anguished-o-he-had-to-admit/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Discovering dedicated mystery booksellers was a bit like going to heaven without having to die first”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/discovering-dedicated-mystery-booksellers-was-a-bit-like-going-to/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Everybody's got the right to go to hell in the handcart of their choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/everybody-s-got-the-right-to-go-to-hell-in-the-handcart-of-their/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“It wasn't enough but it was a start. It might keep him going...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/it-wasn-t-enough-but-it-was-a-start-it-might-keep-him-going/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Look at you. Finally, you look upset. Is that what's bothering you now?' She stepped close to him and pushed him hard in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/look-at-you-finally-you-look-upset-is-that-what-s-bothering-you-now/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [That was the trouble with moving houses; no matter how carefully you packed the books, they never ended up on the new shelves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/that-was-the-trouble-with-moving-houses-no-matter-how-carefully-you/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Why are you only coming home just after three? Do you want a drink? I'm wide awake now.' He could be so like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/why-are-you-only-coming-home-just-after-three-do-you-want-a-drink-i-m/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“junction at the top of the stairs. She gave a curious glance down General Tilney’s corridor, but she”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/junction-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-she-gave-a-curious-glance-down/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [Steve Mosby has become one of a handful of writers who make me excited about crime fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/steve-mosby-has-become-one-of-a-handful-of-writers-who-make-me/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [It's not magic that takes us to another world - it's storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/it-s-not-magic-that-takes-us-to-another-world-it-s-storytelling/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“I was just finishing up my drink then I was off to get the night bus.' Carol grinned. 'Your sophistication never ceases to amaze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/i-was-just-finishing-up-my-drink-then-i-was-off-to-get-the-night-bus/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Attractive smile, Carol added to her list of particulars as she shook the hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/attractive-smile-carol-added-to-her-list-of-particulars-as-she-shook/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) [Explore all 49 Val McDermid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's a piece of cake, being a lawyer or a doctor or a computer systems analyst or an accountant. Libraries are full of books telling you how to do it. 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