Clean Quote by David Byrne
“There's a great temptation to clean everything up and make everything more perfect. You have to know when to stop and stop doing it, or you might end up with something that sounds metronomic.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Rolling Stone, 2004
The urge to perfect everything can become obsessive, leading to a sterile, mechanical outcome.
In simple terms: Perfectionism can stifle creativity.
Key Takeaway
Know when to accept good enough.
Themes
creativity
perfectionism
balance
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
motivational
practical
When to use this quote
- project planning
- artistic creation
- software development
- home organization
Key Concepts
Design thinking
process management
Questions to Reflect On
- What project could benefit from a looser approach?
- How do you decide when something is “good enough”?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing may erase authenticity.
![“I walked all around it [the Guggenheim Bilbao] and couldn't find one clear, clean shot. To make things worse, the weather was lousy. Nothing about this rang commercial money shot. In a situation like this there's only one thing to do: forget about pleasing editors, please yourself.” quote by Robert Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/375/robert-polidori-55002_clean_i-walked-all-around-it-the-guggenheim-bi_9097.jpg)
