"I want to join the community and work to attain enlightenment. How long will it take me?"

"Ten years," replies the master.

"Well, how about if I really work and double my efforts?"

"Twenty years."

"Hey, just a moment. That's not fair! Why did you double it?"

"In your case," says the master, "I'm afraid it will be thirty years."

--- Jack Kornfeld, in
After the Ecstasy,
the Laundry.