At first glance, the phrase “slowly quick” seems to be an oxymoron, but it’s actually an adage that can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman. “σπεῦδε βραδέως” in Greek and “festina lente” in Latin, this motto reminds people the balance between persistent efforts and flow of knowledge and skills.

The slow tortoise won the race with the hare in the famous fable, because the tortoise kept a steady pace and began with the end in mind. The hare was fast, but the hare didn’t stick to its goal and lost in the race. 

The virtuosity or inspiration shown in the performance of a musician or the writing of a writer is nurtured by unseen daily practice and trivial constant revisions. The same wisdom can be applied to other fields and pursuits in life.