It's a terrible mistake to let the perfect get in the way…
““It's a terrible mistake to let the perfect get in the way of the good. If you wait to publish until you have written a great book, you will never publish anything. Great books happen by chance, not by design. The wise writer writes the best he can and leaves it to posterity to decide about greatness.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Waiting for perfection prevents publication; good work emerges from effort, not design, and its value is judged over time.
In simple terms: Don't wait for perfect to create.
Key Takeaway
Publish early, improve later.
Themes
creativity
productivity
perfectionism
Mood
encouraging
pragmatic
Type
motivational
practical
When to use this quote
- author workshops
- self‑publishing
- content marketing
- academic publishing
Key Concepts
process
iteration
feedback
Questions to Reflect On
- What small steps can you take to finish a project?
- How do you balance quality with progress?
A Different Perspective
Perfectionism can stifle innovation.