--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We all know that we are not perfect? So…" description: "\"We all know that we are not perfect? So why do we act as if this is the case & hold ourselves so rigorously accountable?\" — Alastair Arnott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/alastair-arnott-37501_accountable_we-all-know-that-we-are-not-perfect-so-w_809904.jpg" --- # We all know that we are not perfect? So why do we act as… ![“We all know that we are not perfect? So why do we act as if this is the case & hold ourselves so rigorously accountable?” quote by Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/alastair-arnott-37501_accountable_we-all-know-that-we-are-not-perfect-so-w_809904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/alastair-arnott-37501_accountable_we-all-know-that-we-are-not-perfect-so-w_809904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/alastair-arnott-37501_accountable_we-all-know-that-we-are-not-perfect-so-w_809904.jpg) > “We all know that we are not perfect? So why do we act as if this is the case & hold ourselves so rigorously accountable?” [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People claim imperfection yet hold themselves to strict standards, creating internal conflict. **In simple terms:** We demand perfection despite knowing we’re flawed. Key Takeaway Practice self‑compassion and realistic expectations. Themes perfectionism self‑criticism psychology Mood reflective analytical Type thoughtful empathetic When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - workplace culture - education Key Concepts cognitive dissonance self‑acceptance mental health Questions to Reflect On - Why do we set impossible standards? - How can we balance growth with kindness? A Different Perspective Rigid standards can cause stress and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) [American dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) [Being in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-in-love/) [Cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Facebook status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facebook-status/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Hold Rigorously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-rigorously-242970/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [People change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-change/) [Perfect Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-act-242971/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Psychol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychol-150945/) [Rigorously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigorously-242969/) [Rigorously Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigorously-accountable-242968/) [Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Teachers and teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers-and-teaching/) [Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenagers/) [Twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twitter/) [Uplifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uplifting/) ## Related quotes > [Wisdom is not facts and repetitions of truth repeated back in a pressurised situation such as in an exam hall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/wisdom-is-not-facts-and-repetitions-of-truth-repeated-back-in-a/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [ 22nd Century Learning? Simple - \[Create, Fail, Adapt, Repeat\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/22nd-century-learning-simple-create-fail-adapt-repeat/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Childrens ambitions in school are often a glass ceiling, an obstacle to what they can accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/childrens-ambitions-in-school-are-often-a-glass-ceiling-an-obstacle/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Celebrate your own biases, they are probably brilliantly messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/celebrate-your-own-biases-they-are-probably-brilliantly-messy/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Learning to think rigorously, so as to act rightly and to serve humanity better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/learning-to-think-rigorously-so-as-to-act-rightly-and-to-serve/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [If this work seems so threatening, this is because it isn't simply eccentric or strange, but competent, rigorously argued, and carrying conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-derrida/if-this-work-seems-so-threatening-this-is-because-it-isn-t-simply/) [Jacques Derrida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-derrida/) > [“Rigorously considered, our only natural birthright is to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/rigorously-considered-our-only-natural-birthright-is-to-die/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [It is not until science has become a discipline to which the research ability of any mind from any class in society can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/it-is-not-until-science-has-become-a-discipline-to-which-the-research/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [West Pointers tend to be rigorously honest - more than necessary, in my view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/west-pointers-tend-to-be-rigorously-honest-more-than-necessary-in-my/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [I'm proud of the fact that I made my way in life very rigorously. I was a bit too stubborn when it came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kretschmann/i-m-proud-of-the-fact-that-i-made-my-way-in-life-very-rigorously-i/) [Thomas Kretschmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kretschmann/) > [We need to make sure that leaks of classified information, of national security secrets, needs to be rigorously pursued and prosecuted to the fullest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/we-need-to-make-sure-that-leaks-of-classified-information-of-national/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [A thinking that approaches it objects openly, rigorously ... is also free toward its objects in the sense that it refuses to have rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/a-thinking-that-approaches-it-objects-openly-rigorously-is-also-free/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [Encourage your children to read. Reading can unlock the keys to a whole world of information. Parents are teachers, both by example and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/encourage-your-children-to-read-reading-can-unlock-the-keys-to-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Religious teachings and teachers have conditioned us to think of faith as a magic catalyst that makes God work for us. In no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/religious-teachings-and-teachers-have-conditioned-us-to-think-of/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More by Alastair Arnott > [“Error, failure, and being wrong are central to our development. We just aren’t using them as much as we should…yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/error-failure-and-being-wrong-are-central-to-our-development-we-just/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Positive failure: is failure after appropriate investment that leads to further learning or development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/positive-failure-is-failure-after-appropriate-investment-that-leads/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Seek the 'yes' behind the 'no' and the 'failure' behind the 'success'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/seek-the-yes-behind-the-no-and-the-failure-behind-the-success/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Wisdom is not facts and repetitions of truth repeated back in a pressurised situation such as in an exam hall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/wisdom-is-not-facts-and-repetitions-of-truth-repeated-back-in-a/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [ 22nd Century Learning? Simple - \[Create, Fail, Adapt, Repeat\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/22nd-century-learning-simple-create-fail-adapt-repeat/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Many of the best ideas seem to come, not from the boardroom, but the staffrooms, lunch & the relaxed sharing of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/many-of-the-best-ideas-seem-to-come-not-from-the-boardroom-but-the/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Celebrate your own biases, they are probably brilliantly messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/celebrate-your-own-biases-they-are-probably-brilliantly-messy/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Childrens ambitions in school are often a glass ceiling, an obstacle to what they can accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/childrens-ambitions-in-school-are-often-a-glass-ceiling-an-obstacle/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [When pupils are fully engaged they are difficult to get out of the classroom rather than in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/when-pupils-are-fully-engaged-they-are-difficult-to-get-out-of-the/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [Fighting against is easy. Fighting for requires wisdom, courage, and vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/fighting-against-is-easy-fighting-for-requires-wisdom-courage-and/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) > [“I don't know who started this thing about being perfect but the sooner we ditch that idea the happier we all will be!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-arnott/i-don-t-know-who-started-this-thing-about-being-perfect-but-the/) [Alastair Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) [Explore all 12 Alastair Arnott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-arnott/) ## More Accountable quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) [Browse all 351 Accountable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We all know that we are not perfect? 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