“The journey is part of the experience—an expression of the seriousness of one's intent. One doesn't take the A train to Mecca.”

Simplified Meaning:

When you are working towards a big goal, the effort and steps you take to get there show how serious and committed you are. Think about someone training for a marathon. They can't just show up on race day and expect to run 26 miles without preparing. Each day, they follow a training plan, run increasing distances, and make sacrifices like waking up early. This process proves how dedicated they are to completing the marathon. Similarly, in the quote, it means that reaching an important destination or achieving something significant can't be done with shortcuts or without putting in the effort. The journey itself, full of hard work and dedication, highlights how committed a person is. You wouldn't take a quick, simple route if you were truly devoted to achieving something great because real dedication involves a lot of effort and determination. When working towards your own goals, remember that the hard work you put in is important and shows how much you care about reaching the end result.