Hippocrates

Copied from Learn Programming in Ten Years:

Hippocrates (c. 400BC) "Ars longa, vita brevis, occasio praeceps, experimentum periculosum, iudicium difficile", which in English renders as "Life is short, [the] craft long, opportunity fleeting, experiment treacherous, judgment difficult."

To achieve a mastery in whatever you wish, you will need a lot of time and work to do to be one of the best in your area. Sadly, there are no shortcuts in the path of mastery.