Done Quote by Bruce Nauman
“Did you stop because it was good enough, or could have done more - but then maybe ruined it too? Sometimes you finish because you've gone too far.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art and Process, 1993
The quote questions whether stopping at “good enough” or pushing further risks ruining a work, highlighting tension between satisfaction and overextension.
In simple terms: Stopping too early or going too far can both harm a project.
Key Takeaway
Know when to finish.
Themes
art
process
perfectionism
risk
Mood
contemplative
analytical
Type
artistic
motivational
When to use this quote
- painting
- sculpture
- performance art
Key Concepts
creative decision
self‑critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria signal a work is complete?
- How do you guard against over‑refining?
A Different Perspective
Pushing further may diminish original intent.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
