If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.

The saying counters the myth of effortless genius by insisting that “mastery” is the visible tip of an iceberg of labor. Read in the context of Renaissance workshop culture—long apprenticeships, relentless drawing practice, and technical problem‑solving—it frames artistic greatness as earned rather than innate. The remark also functions as a moral lesson: admiration should be tempered by awareness of discipline, persistence, and sacrifice. In a broader sense, it anticipates modern discussions of “hidden work” behind excellence, suggesting that what looks miraculous is often the cumulative result of sustained effort over time.