--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not interested in perfection. The…" description: "\"I'm not interested in perfection. The universe is perfect, and there are some works of art that we see as perfect, but human beings aren't perfect.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/bette-midler-1976_art_i-m-not-interested-in-perfection-the-uni_2199525.jpg" --- # I'm not interested in perfection. The universe is perfect… ![“I'm not interested in perfection. The universe is perfect, and there are some works of art that we see as perfect, but human beings aren't perfect.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/bette-midler-1976_art_i-m-not-interested-in-perfection-the-uni_2199525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/bette-midler-1976_art_i-m-not-interested-in-perfection-the-uni_2199525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/bette-midler-1976_art_i-m-not-interested-in-perfection-the-uni_2199525.jpg) > “I'm not interested in perfection. The universe is perfect, and there are some works of art that we see as perfect, but human beings aren't perfect.” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rejects the pursuit of perfection, noting the universe and art can be perfect, but humans cannot. **In simple terms:** Humans are imperfect; perfection is unattainable. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and focus on growth. Themes self‑acceptance creativity human limitation artistic expression philosophy Mood thought‑provoking encouraging Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - creative work - personal development - team collaboration - learning from mistakes Key Concepts existentialism psychology art theory Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from accepting imperfection? - How can imperfection foster innovation? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can still drive excellence when balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) ## Related quotes > [As you become more aware of your own imperfections, you simultaneously become more aware of the overall perfection of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-you-become-more-aware-of-your-own-imperfections-you-simultaneously/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Infinite is Imperfection, because never totally achieved. If Infinite was perfection, it will have a Point A and a point Z. And it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flame-the-thinker/infinite-is-imperfection-because-never-totally-achieved-if-infinite/) Flame The Thinker > [“Writers strive for the impossible: perfection. Even the universe is flawed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-thurlow/writers-strive-for-the-impossible-perfection-even-the-universe-is/) [Chloe Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-thurlow/) > [Software breaks before it bends, so it demands perfection in a universe that prefers statistics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/software-breaks-before-it-bends-so-it-demands-perfection-in-a/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist…Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/one-of-the-basic-rules-of-the-universe-is-that-nothing-is-perfect/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [You and I more than anyone else in the universe are perfect for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/you-and-i-more-than-anyone-else-in-the-universe-are-perfect-for-each/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [For since the fabric of the universe is most perfect and the work of a most wise Creator, nothing at all takes place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonhard-euler/for-since-the-fabric-of-the-universe-is-most-perfect-and-the-work-of/) [Leonhard Euler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonhard-euler/) > [And I will show that there is no imperfection in the present, and can be none in the future, And I will show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/and-i-will-show-that-there-is-no-imperfection-in-the-present-and-can-3/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [All the things of the universe are perfect miracles, each as profound as any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/all-the-things-of-the-universe-are-perfect-miracles-each-as-profound/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [O great creator of being grant us one more hour to perform our art and perfect our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/o-great-creator-of-being-grant-us-one-more-hour-to-perform-our-art/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“Everyone is trying to perfect beauty but they don’t realize it’s abstract art. It’s not something to perfect. Everyone is already beautiful you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breana-najera/everyone-is-trying-to-perfect-beauty-but-they-don-t-realize-it-s/) Breana Najera > [Sometimes it's better to live through someone's work than the person themselves, and to realise that every human being is flawed, but through art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/sometimes-it-s-better-to-live-through-someone-s-work-than-the-person/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [“One thing I’ve learned about art is that, it’s not perfect. It doesn’t have to be a flawless masterpiece. I’m not perfect, we’re not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jac-prescott/one-thing-i-ve-learned-about-art-is-that-it-s-not-perfect-it-doesn-t/) Jac Prescott > [I love this site. It was lovingly hand-shaped it. Your soul transformed this into this art. It was perfect. I have tried to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/i-love-this-site-it-was-lovingly-hand-shaped-it-your-soul-transformed/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [For me, art really starts with acceptance, self trust. Wherever you come to with art, it's perfect. You don't have to come with anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/for-me-art-really-starts-with-acceptance-self-trust-wherever-you-come/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you're bound to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not interested in perfection. 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