--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, when we know that there's no such…" description: "\"Why, when we know that there's no such thing as perfect, do most of us spend an incredible amount of time and energy trying to be everything to everyon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/bren-brown-280_admire_why-when-we-know-that-there-s-no-such-th_347326.jpg" --- # Why, when we know that there's no such thing as perfect… ![“Why, when we know that there's no such thing as perfect, do most of us spend an incredible amount of time and energy trying to be everything to everyone? Is it that we really admire perfection? No - the truth is that we are actually drawn to people who are real and down-to-earth. We love…” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/bren-brown-280_admire_why-when-we-know-that-there-s-no-such-th_347326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/bren-brown-280_admire_why-when-we-know-that-there-s-no-such-th_347326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/bren-brown-280_admire_why-when-we-know-that-there-s-no-such-th_347326.jpg) > “Why, when we know that there's no such thing as perfect, do most of us spend an incredible amount of time and energy trying to be everything to everyone? Is it that we really admire perfection? No - the truth is that we are actually drawn to people who are real and down-to-earth. We love authenticity and we know that life is messy and imperfect.” [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People chase perfection despite knowing it’s unattainable, because they value authenticity and connection over flawless images. **In simple terms:** We seek authenticity, not perfection. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and focus on genuine connections. Themes authenticity perfection self‑acceptance relationships Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - teamwork - leadership - personal growth - mental health Key Concepts Vulnerability social comparison human imperfection Questions to Reflect On - What does “being everything to everyone” cost you personally? - How can you cultivate authenticity in daily life? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can be a barrier to authenticity; cultural pressure may reinforce it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) [Admire Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire-perfection-3214707/) [Amount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) [Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) [Down to earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-to-earth/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Imperfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfect/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Love Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-authenticity-2027652/) [Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfection Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-truth-3214706/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-energy/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [Philosophy is a kind of journey, ever learning yet never arriving at the ideal perfection of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/philosophy-is-a-kind-of-journey-ever-learning-yet-never-arriving-at/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“Skilled love Authenticity These things don't trick themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharita-a-sims/skilled-love-authenticity-these-things-don-t-trick-themselves/) [Sharita a Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharita-a-sims/) > [I love British television. I love the irony, I love the authenticity and I love the roles I get put up for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayda-field/i-love-british-television-i-love-the-irony-i-love-the-authenticity/) [Ayda Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayda-field/) > [“Stick on your originality, yes I know few people will call you a boring person but millions will fall in love with you because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/stick-on-your-originality-yes-i-know-few-people-will-call-you-a/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [People love authenticity in comedy and, coming from a region, you get a very strong sense of place. They can place you straight away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-love-authenticity-in-comedy-and-coming-from-a-region-you-get-a/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [“Life-paralysis refers to all of the opportunities we miss because we’re too afraid to put anything out in the world that could be imperfect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/life-paralysis-refers-to-all-of-the-opportunities-we-miss-because-we/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Living a connected life ultimately is about setting boundaries, spending less time and energy hustling and winning over people who don't matter, and seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/living-a-connected-life-ultimately-is-about-setting-boundaries/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I don't want to change. I don't ever want to be a stuck-up asshole. I mean, some people probably think I am now, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lita-ford/i-don-t-want-to-change-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-a-stuck-up-asshole-i/) [Lita Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lita-ford/) > [The cast of 'Parks & Rec' is just a group of unbelievably nice, humble, down to earth, hilarious friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/the-cast-of-parks-rec-is-just-a-group-of-unbelievably-nice-humble/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [It was a dream come true working with Johnny Depp. He's always been my acting idol. Working with him and watching him work taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cook/it-was-a-dream-come-true-working-with-johnny-depp-he-s-always-been-my/) [Mason Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cook/) > [And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/and-when-we-give-each-other-christmas-gifts-in-his-name-let-us/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [Jay-Z is one of the biggest stars in the world and such an icon. He was so down to earth. It was like talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/jay-z-is-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-world-and-such-an-icon-he/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [Imagination helps you to recognize the reality of facts, but then to go beyond them, to penetrate beneath them, to rise above them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/imagination-helps-you-to-recognize-the-reality-of-facts-but-then-to/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) ## More by Brené Brown > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) [Explore all 759 Brené Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More Admire quotes > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) [Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why, when we know that there's no such thing as perfect, do most of us spend an incredible amount of time and energy trying to be everything to everyone? 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