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39 Perfectionism Quotes – Inspiring quotes to help you overcome perfectionism

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Looking for perfectionism quotes to get motivated to overcome perfectionism? Here are 39 inspiring quotes about perfectionism.

We all have some sort of perfectionist tendencies. It’s a natural (even helpful) part of life, but it can also be very harmful and slow down the process of moving forward.

When striving for perfection, the tasks you face might make you focus on mistakes and weaknesses instead of what’s going right or well.

If perfectionism has been holding you back from achieving your goals, try thinking about progress rather than perfecting to get started! Good enough is enough, and sometimes good enough IS just perfect! So don’t let perfection stand between yourself and success.

And this is why I’ve put together this list of 49 quotes about perfectionism.

I hope these quotes about perfectionism will provide some inspiration for striving towards progress and excellence instead of attaining perfection.

Perfectionism quotes: The Meaning of Perfectionism

1. “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you insane your whole life.”

Anne Lamott

2. “Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.”

Anne Wilson Schaef

3. “Perfectionism is a delusion that can rob one of a very successful, enriching life if not careful.”

April Bryan

4. “Perfectionism is the art of never being satisfied.”

Unknown

5. “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

6. “Perfection is a roadblock to progress.”

Unknown

7. “Perfect is the enemy of good”

Voltaire

Mind changing quotes about perfectionism

8. “People call me a perfectionist, but I’m not. I’m a rightist. I do something until it’s right, and then I move on to the next thing.”

James Cameron

9. “I will be patient with myself as I develop into the person I am meant to be. Being perfect is not the goal. Continuing to grow in a positive direction is the goal.”

Unknown

10. “When things are perfect, that’s when you need to worry most.”

Drew Barrymore

11. “Perfectionism is a disease. Procrastination is a disease. Action is the cure.”

Richie Norton

12. “Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.”

Salvador Dali

13. “Everything is perfect and there is always room for improvement.”

Shunryu Suzuki

Perfectionism quotes: Accept & Embrace your mistakes and imperfections quotes

14. “The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake. You can’t learn anything from being perfect.”

Adam Osbourne

15. “Have the courage to be imperfect.”

Alfred Adler

16. “I was born to make mistakes. Not fake perfection.”

Drake

17. “If you’re not making some notable mistakes along the way, you’re certainly not taking enough business and career chances. “

Sallie Krawcheck

18. “Don’t worry about not doing “it” perfectly right now. It’s ok, just keep at it, you will soon settle in it, and then you’ll be glad you didn’t give up.”

TemitOpe Ibrahim

19. “Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.”

Brené Brown

Strive for Excellence (or Better), Not Perfection Quotes

20. “Perfectionism is not as much the desire for excellence, as it is the fear of failure couched in procrastination.”

Dan Miller

21. “Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.”

Harriet Braiker

22. “Excellence does not require perfection.”

Henry James

23. “Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for ‘better than yesterday.”

Izey Victoria Odiase

24. “Perfect is good but done is better.”

Jane Hamill

25. “Done is better than perfect.”

Sheryl Sandberg

26. “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”

Vince Lombardi

RELATED POST: How to overcome perfectionism – 7 simple strategies

Good enough is enough – Perfection is Unattainable Quotes

27. “Let go of who you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.”

Brené Brown

28. “If you wait for things to be perfect, you walk away with nothing. Just jump in and get started.”

Jennifer Ritchie

29. “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

30. “Good enough is good enough . Perfect will make you a big fat mess every time.”

Rebecca Wells

31. “Sometimes good enough IS just perfect”

Cristina Morero

Perfectionism quotes: Focus on Progress Not perfection

Focus on progress not perfection - Bill Phillips - Perfectionism Quotes

32. “Focus on progress, not perfection.”

Bill Phillips
Progress not perfection You can't be perfect everything but you can gain progress on daily basis - Court McGee - Perfectionism Quotes.

33. “Progress not perfection… you can’t be perfect everything… but you can gain progress on a daily basis.”

Court McGee
Personal growth is about progress not perfection - Hal Elrod - Perfectionism Quotes

34. “Personal growth is about progress, not perfection.”

Hal Elrod
Whether you think you can or you can't - you are right - Henry Ford - Perfectionism Quotes

35. “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right”

Henry Ford
Progress not perfection is what we should be asking of ourselves - Julia Cameron - Perfectionism Quotes

36. “Progress, not perfection, is what we should be asking of ourselves”

Julia Cameron
The goal is progress not perfection - Kathy Freston - Perfectionism Quotes

37. “The goal is progress, not perfection!”

Kathy Freston
Perfection is the enemy of progress - Winston Churchill - Perfectionism Quotes

38. “Perfection is the enemy of progress.”

Winston Churchill
Don't strive for perfection but purrfection - you know like cats - just do you and that'll do - Cristina Morero - Perfectionism Quotes

39. “Don’t strive for perfection, but purrfection. You know, like cats. Just do you and that’ll do.”

Cristina Morero

RELATED POST: How to strive for progress, not perfection – 7 Simple Strategies

People with perfectionists tendencies usually think about all the bad things that can happen or the mistakes they’ve made instead of the things they’re doing or have done right.

Perfectionists might not even start on a new task because subconsciously, they might believe perfection is impossible, and if anything less than perfect happens, it will be a failure. You should not worry about being perfect and instead focus on making progress.

It’s ok to not get it right the first time and keep practicing until things are done well enough. Don’t wait for perfection!

And refer back to these quotes about perfectionism if and whenever needed.

RELATED POST: Wondering if you are a perfectionist? – 9 signs you might be


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