--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wonderful pastor I know once told me…" description: "\"A wonderful pastor I know once told me, \"Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse.\" So now I try to remind myself that if I engage in perfectio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg" --- # A wonderful pastor I know once told me, "Perfectionism is… ![“A wonderful pastor I know once told me, "Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse." So now I try to remind myself that if I engage in perfectionism, I am abusing myself. Period.” quote by Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg) > “A wonderful pastor I know once told me, "Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse." So now I try to remind myself that if I engage in perfectionism, I am abusing myself. Period.” [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism is a self‑inflicted form of abuse, harming one's well‑being. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism harms you. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb perfectionist habits. Themes self‑care mental health perfectionism Mood reflective concerned Type advisory psychological When to use this quote - work projects - creative writing - personal goals - daily routines Key Concepts self‑criticism self‑abuse Questions to Reflect On - How does perfectionism affect your daily life? - What small steps can reduce it? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stem from societal pressure for excellence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wilson-schaef/perfectionism-is-self-abuse-of-the-highest-order/) [Anne Wilson Schaef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wilson-schaef/) > [Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/under-any-circumstance-simply-do-your-best-and-you-will-avoid-self/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“Then Sister Loretta got to her point. “There are some boys in here who probably play with themselves at night. Abuse themselves. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/then-sister-loretta-got-to-her-point-there-are-some-boys-in-here-who/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [We have the need to be accepted and to be loved by others, but we cannot accept and love ourselves. The more self-love we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/we-have-the-need-to-be-accepted-and-to-be-loved-by-others-but-we/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“In your whole life nobody has ever abused you more than you have abused yourself. And the limit of your self-abuse is exactly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/in-your-whole-life-nobody-has-ever-abused-you-more-than-you-have/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [“The melon of Castile is for self abuse. The melon of Valencia for eating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-melon-of-castile-is-for-self-abuse-the-melon-of-valencia-for/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Many mothers are wholly ignorant of the almost universal prevalence of secret vice, or self-abuse among the young. Why hesitate to say firmly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-kellogg/many-mothers-are-wholly-ignorant-of-the-almost-universal-prevalence/) [John Harvey Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-kellogg/) > [We runners talk about having fun but I don't think anybody believes us. We talk about discipline and endurance, we take care, we exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagal/we-runners-talk-about-having-fun-but-i-don-t-think-anybody-believes/) [Peter Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagal/) > [Self abuse is anti-social, aggression still natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richey-edwards/self-abuse-is-anti-social-aggression-still-natural/) [Richey Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richey-edwards/) > [“Well, the Church does teach that self-abuse is a sin, but my father said he thought that if it came to a choice between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/well-the-church-does-teach-that-self-abuse-is-a-sin-but-my-father/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“People can't concieve of a virtue in someone else that they can't coneive in themselves. Instead of believing you're stronger, it's so much easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/people-can-t-concieve-of-a-virtue-in-someone-else-that-they-can-t/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [There are a lot of bands using self-abuse as a marketing gimmick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/there-are-a-lot-of-bands-using-self-abuse-as-a-marketing-gimmick/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [“The more self-love we have, the less we will experience self-abuse. Self-abuse comes from self-rejection, and self-rejection comes from having an image of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/the-more-self-love-we-have-the-less-we-will-experience-self-abuse/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [Indecision is a form of self-abuse - be ready to step up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-evans/indecision-is-a-form-of-self-abuse-be-ready-to-step-up/) Suzanne Evans > [Celibacy is the worst form of self-abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/celibacy-is-the-worst-form-of-self-abuse/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) ## More by Ashley Judd > [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [Your private relationship with yourself is a spring that will feed every other factor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/your-private-relationship-with-yourself-is-a-spring-that-will-feed/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [“(In part, quoting Robert Keegan from Harvard):'When we take the risk of really witnessing another human being, when we validate their human experience, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/in-part-quoting-robert-keegan-from-harvard-when-we-take-the-risk-of/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [The empowerment of girls and women is an essential tool to preventing the HIV/AIDS emergency from exploding any further](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/the-empowerment-of-girls-and-women-is-an-essential-tool-to-preventing/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [I've always been crazy for the American songbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-ve-always-been-crazy-for-the-american-songbook/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [I did a lot of hiking and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-did-a-lot-of-hiking-and-i-loved-it/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [“I recall looking out the window at Redbuds,Dogwoods, daffodils, irises and pom-pom bushes, knowing exactly what Heaven must look like: a spring day in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-recall-looking-out-the-window-at-redbuds-dogwoods-daffodils-irises/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [My first big acting performance was in the Marilyn Monroe biography piece, and it required frontal nudity. I talked to Mira Sorvino, my co-star,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/my-first-big-acting-performance-was-in-the-marilyn-monroe-biography/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [Abstinence, being faithful and correct and consistent condom use are the only ways to successfully reach everyone when discussing HIV prevention. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/abstinence-being-faithful-and-correct-and-consistent-condom-use-are/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [Getting married is an incredible act of hopefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/getting-married-is-an-incredible-act-of-hopefulness/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [God doesn't make mistakes and timing unfolds as it should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/god-doesn-t-make-mistakes-and-timing-unfolds-as-it-should/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [Well, maybe there are one or two things about the double jeopardy concept that are overlooked. I could be charged with violating my probation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/well-maybe-there-are-one-or-two-things-about-the-double-jeopardy/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [The Conversation about women’s bodies exists largely outside of us, while it is also directed at (and marketed to) us, and used to define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/the-conversation-about-women-s-bodies-exists-largely-outside-of-us/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [I very much believe in things unseen, both of positive and destructive energy, and I have never seen The Exorcist through from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-very-much-believe-in-things-unseen-both-of-positive-and-destructive/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [Everyone can relate to depression. It touches so many. Suicide is the leading cause of death among teenagers. Statistics show that women suffer from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/everyone-can-relate-to-depression-it-touches-so-many-suicide-is-the/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) [Explore all 75 Ashley Judd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A wonderful pastor I know once told me, \"Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse.\" So now I try to remind myself that if I engage in perfectionism, I am abusing myself. Period.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ashley Judd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-perfectionism-is-the-highest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-perfectionism-is-the-highest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/ashley-judd-9064_abuse_a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-p_151645.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A wonderful pastor I know once told me, \"Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse.\" So now I try to…” — Ashley Judd", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ashley Judd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A wonderful pastor I know once...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-perfectionism-is-the-highest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-perfectionism-is-the-highest/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```