Quotes About Perfectionism
Updated May 15, 2015.
Perfectionism is a trait often found in those with social anxiety disorder. You might feel as though what you say and do must be perfect or others will judge you poorly. Below are some quotes about perfectionism and how it can be problematic.
Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker
A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.
~John Henry Newman
To escape criticism - do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. ~Elbert Hubbard
When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target. ~George Fisher
Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. ~Vince Lombardi
Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ~Salvador Dali
The fastest way to break the cycle of perfectionism and become a fearless mother is to give up the idea of doing it perfectly - indeed to embrace uncertainty and imperfection. ~Arianna Huffington
However, don't let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started. ~Marilu Henner
Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough - that we should try again. ~Julia Cameron
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. ~Anna Quindlen
The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake - you can't learn anything from being perfect.
~Adam Osborne
I'm a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's okay if there are flaws here and there. ~Tyra Banks
Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it. ~Anne Lamott
But I am learning that perfection isn't what matters. In fact, it's the very thing that can destroy you if you let it. ~Emily Giffin
Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it's often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis. ~Brené Brown
Perfectionism doesn't believe in practice shots. It doesn't believe in improvement. Perfectionism has never heard that anything worth doing is worth doing badly--and that if we allow ourselves to do something badly we might in time become quite good at it. Perfectionism measures our beginner's work against the finished work of masters. Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition. It doesn't know how to say, "Good try," or "Job well done." The critic does not believe in creative glee--or any glee at all, for that matter. No, perfectionism is a serious matter. ~Julia Cameron
Too many people spend too much time trying to perfect something before they actually do it. Instead of waiting for perfection, run with what you go, and fix it along the way… ~Paul Arden
Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person. ~Dr. David M. Burns
Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly. ~Robert Schuller
Gently remind yourself that life is okay the way it6 is, right now. In the absence of your judgment, everything would be fine. As you begin to eliminate your need for perfection in all areas of your life, you'll begin to discover the perfection in life itself. ~Richard Carlson
Nothing gives a man a sense of failure so often as an overdeveloped sense of perfection. ~George S. Odiorue
Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull. ~W. Somerset Maugham
Perfection, fortunately, is not the only alternative to mediocrity. A more sensible alternative is excellence. Striving for excellence is stimulating and rewarding; striving for perfection--in practically anything--is both neurotic and futile. ~Edwin Bliss
A primary reason people don't do new things Is because they want to be able to do them perfectly--first time. It's completely irrational, impractical, not workable--and yet, it's how most people run their lives. ~John-Roger and Peter McWilliams
The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement. ~George Will
Sources:
Brainy Quote. Quotes About Perfectionism. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Good Reads. Quotes About Perfectionism. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Quotes Daddy. Quotes About Perfection. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Quote Garden. Quotes About Perfection. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Quote Lady. Quotes About Perfectionism. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Perfectionism is a trait often found in those with social anxiety disorder. You might feel as though what you say and do must be perfect or others will judge you poorly. Below are some quotes about perfectionism and how it can be problematic.
Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker
A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.
~John Henry Newman
To escape criticism - do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. ~Elbert Hubbard
When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target. ~George Fisher
Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. ~Vince Lombardi
Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ~Salvador Dali
The fastest way to break the cycle of perfectionism and become a fearless mother is to give up the idea of doing it perfectly - indeed to embrace uncertainty and imperfection. ~Arianna Huffington
However, don't let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started. ~Marilu Henner
Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough - that we should try again. ~Julia Cameron
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. ~Anna Quindlen
The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake - you can't learn anything from being perfect.
~Adam Osborne
I'm a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's okay if there are flaws here and there. ~Tyra Banks
Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it. ~Anne Lamott
But I am learning that perfection isn't what matters. In fact, it's the very thing that can destroy you if you let it. ~Emily Giffin
Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it's often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis. ~Brené Brown
Perfectionism doesn't believe in practice shots. It doesn't believe in improvement. Perfectionism has never heard that anything worth doing is worth doing badly--and that if we allow ourselves to do something badly we might in time become quite good at it. Perfectionism measures our beginner's work against the finished work of masters. Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition. It doesn't know how to say, "Good try," or "Job well done." The critic does not believe in creative glee--or any glee at all, for that matter. No, perfectionism is a serious matter. ~Julia Cameron
Too many people spend too much time trying to perfect something before they actually do it. Instead of waiting for perfection, run with what you go, and fix it along the way… ~Paul Arden
Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person. ~Dr. David M. Burns
Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly. ~Robert Schuller
Gently remind yourself that life is okay the way it6 is, right now. In the absence of your judgment, everything would be fine. As you begin to eliminate your need for perfection in all areas of your life, you'll begin to discover the perfection in life itself. ~Richard Carlson
Nothing gives a man a sense of failure so often as an overdeveloped sense of perfection. ~George S. Odiorue
Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull. ~W. Somerset Maugham
Perfection, fortunately, is not the only alternative to mediocrity. A more sensible alternative is excellence. Striving for excellence is stimulating and rewarding; striving for perfection--in practically anything--is both neurotic and futile. ~Edwin Bliss
A primary reason people don't do new things Is because they want to be able to do them perfectly--first time. It's completely irrational, impractical, not workable--and yet, it's how most people run their lives. ~John-Roger and Peter McWilliams
The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement. ~George Will
Sources:
Brainy Quote. Quotes About Perfectionism. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Good Reads. Quotes About Perfectionism. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Quotes Daddy. Quotes About Perfection. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Quote Garden. Quotes About Perfection. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
Quote Lady. Quotes About Perfectionism. Accessed February 26th, 2013.
