Read through these perfection quotes if you need some words of encouragement that’ll lead you to excellence!
It’s perfectly normal to want to strive for perfection. But, know that the world is constantly evolving. If we stick to what we think is perfect, then there will be no chances for us to improve and grow as humans.
Life is an ongoing and never-ending process, and absolute perfection isn’t possible. Instead, you can constantly strive for it to ensure that your every action would lead to success, excellence, and a happy life.
If you need motivating words that’ll open your eyes to the truth behind perfection, read through the collection we’ve prepared below.
We’re confident you’ll uncover some truths that’ll change how you view your progress in life.
Begin here.
And don’t forget to check out these imperfection quotes and greatness quotes.
Best Perfection Quotes
1. “Perfection is not a destination; it’s a never-ending process.” – Jim Bouchard
2. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
3. “Perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” – Angelique Arnauld
4. “There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness.” – Shannon L. Alder
5. “If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.” – Leo Tolstoy
6. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
7. “Perfection is the measure of heaven, and the wish to be perfect the measure of man.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Famous Quotes About Perfection
8. “Perfection belongs to narrated events, not to those we live.” – Primo Levi
9. “Perfection is an undiscovered jewel.” – Edward Counsel
10. “Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.” – Voltaire
11. “The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.” – George Will
12. “Perfection is boring. If a face doesn’t have mistakes, it’s nothing.” – Kevyn Aucoin
13. “From the moment perfection is attained, ’tis gone.” – Ivan Panin
14. “Perfect should never be a goal. Perfect just happens if you let it.” – Wendy Wunder
Also read: Famous Quotes
Perfection Quotes to Inspire You
15. “Perfection is impossible, but you don’t stop aiming for it.” – Saquon Barkley
16. “Perfection does not exist. You can always do better, and you can always grow.” – Les Brown
17. “Looking for perfection is the only way to motivate yourself.” – Ronnie O’Sullivan
18. “Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretense.” – Marcus Aurelius
19. “Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.” – Philip Stanhope
Also read: Inspirational Quotes, Excellence Quotes
Perfection Quotes for a Full Life
20. “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” – John Henry Newman
21. “Life isn’t meant to be lived perfectly, but merely to be lived. Boldly, wildly, beautifully, uncertainly, imperfectly, magically lived.” – Mandy Hale
22. “Perfectionism means that you try not to leave so much mess to clean up. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived.” – Anne Lamott
23. “Life is a moving, breathing thing. We have to be willing to constantly evolve. Perfection is constant transformation.” – Nia Peeples
24. “For just one second, look at your life and see how perfect it is. Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there’s nothing else. It’s here, and you’d better decide to enjoy it, or you’re going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.” – Lev Grossman
25. “We curate our lives around this perceived sense of perfection because we get rewarded in these short-term signals: hearts, likes, thumbs up. We conflate that with value, and we conflate it with truth, and instead, what it really is is fake, brittle popularity that’s short term and leaves you even more vacant and empty before you did it.” – Chamath Palihapitiya
Perfection Quotes That’ll Lead To Excellence
26. “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dali
27. “The height of perfection is mediocrity.” – Dino Segre
28. “When you aim for perfection, you discover it’s a moving target.” – George Fisher
29. “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – Aristotle
30. “Don’t worry about getting perfect; just keep getting better.” – Frank Peretti
31. “Perfection is impossible; just strive to do your best.” – Angela Watson
32. “Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection.” – Kim Collins
33. “Fix your eyes on perfection, and you make almost everything speed towards it.” – William Ellery Channing
34. “Perfection can be achieved only through devotion, for devotion is the basis of all success.” – Chanakya
Perfection Quotes and Captions for Instagram
35. “Perfection? Being the most human you can be.” – Giovanni Morassutti
36. “No one is perfect. It’s not interesting to be perfect.” – Lindsay Lohan
37. “Perfection and the horizon—things that you should chase but will never catch.” – Colin Wright
38. “It’s not about perfection; it’s about the joy of striving.” – Thomas Keller
39. “Perfection is the child of time.” – Joseph Hall
40. “Perfection cannot be defined or seen; it can only be found in your heart.” – Kelly Millar
Wise Perfection Quotes to Change Your View of the World
41. “Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.” – George Orwell
42. “Perfection is a road, not a destination. Every time I live, I get an education.” – Burk Hudson
43. “I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion.” – Yohji Yamamoto
44. “Perfection is a job complete, praise given, prayer heard. It can be kindness shown, thanks offered up.” – Call the Midwife
45. “Who are you to judge the life I live? I know I’m not perfect―and I don’t live to be―but before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean!” – Bob Marley
46. “People throw away what they could have by insisting on perfection, which they cannot have, and looking for it where they will never find it.” – Edith Schaeffer
47. “Perfection irritates as well as it attracts, in fiction as in life.” – Louis Auchincloss
48. “When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.” – Donald Miller
49. “Perfection is what we discover in each other, what we see reflected back. And if perfection eludes us, that doesn’t matter. For what we have within the moment is enough.” – Call the Midwife
Perfection Quotes Packed With Insights
50. “A minute of perfection was worth the effort. A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection.” – Chuck Palahniuk
51. “The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light.” – Matthew Arnold
52. “Perfection doesn’t exist in anyone. Striving for perfection in any part of our lives is a recipe for failure since it can never be attained.” – John Grohol
53. “Perfectionism rarely begets perfection, or satisfaction—only disappointment.” – Ryan Holiday
54. “Perfection is a trifle dull. It is not the least of life’s ironies that this, which we all aim at, is better not quite achieved.” – W. Somerset Maugham
More Perfection Quotes to Think About
55. “Perfection is terrible; it cannot have children.” – Sylvia Plath
56. “Perfection itself is imperfection.” – Vladimir Horowitz
57. “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.” – Michael J. Fox
58. “True perfection has to be imperfect. I know that sounds foolish, but it’s true.” – Noel Gallagher
59. “Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn’t exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough.” – Henry Royce
60. “The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile. Therefore strive for excellence, not perfection.” – Alan Kulwicki
Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Perfectionist?
Striving for perfection is not a bad thing. In fact, it will lead us to concrete and tangible results when working for our goals. But, we must remember that perfection is not possible; we’re only humans, and only God is capable of absolute perfection.
Although that’s the case, do not lose the drive to perfect your work. It is only by striving for perfection that we produce excellent results that’ll satisfy our desires. But, the results are not the only things that matter; remember, your intent and process also significantly impact how things would turn out for you.
So, strive for perfection but be open to improvements and development. Never be afraid of failing or of showing your flaws to the world. We’re only human, and our imperfections are what make us beautiful and unique.
The next time you find yourself stuck in the mindset that the only good thing is perfection, reread this list of quotes. Accept yourself―flaws and all―and remember to strive to be the best you can be!
