---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's the perfect definition of a…"
description: "\"It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties didn't get what they wanted.\" — David Geffen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg"
---

#  It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties…

![“It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties didn't get what they wanted.” quote by David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg)

> “It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties didn't get what they wanted.”

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A settlement often leaves both sides unsatisfied because compromises dilute original goals.

**In simple terms:** Compromises can leave everyone partly unhappy.

Key Takeaway

Accept that perfect outcomes are rare.

Themes

compromise negotiation expectations

Mood

pragmatic reflective

Type

advice analytical

When to use this quote

- legal disputes
- business deals
- personal arguments
- contract negotiations

Key Concepts

game theory conflict resolution

Questions to Reflect On

- Is a partially satisfactory outcome better than no agreement?
- How can parties improve satisfaction after a settlement?

A Different Perspective

Compromises may still be the best practical solution despite dissatisfaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Definition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition/) [Definition Settlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-settlement-304666/) [Didn Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-wanted-304668/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parties/) [Parties Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parties-didn-304669/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Settlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settlement/) [Settlement Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settlement-parties-304667/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/)

## Related quotes

> [I didn't like parties.I didn't know how to dance and people frightened me, especially people at parties. They attempted to be sexy and gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-didn-t-like-parties-i-didn-t-know-how-to-dance-and-people/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [“She didn't want to go to Levi's party. Even though she liked him, she didn't like parties. And she didn't want the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-didn-t-want-to-go-to-levi-s-party-even-though-she-liked-him-she/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [It is a little weird seeing photographs from parties where you didn't even know a photographer was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-buckley/it-is-a-little-weird-seeing-photographs-from-parties-where-you-didn-t/)

[Jessie Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-buckley/)

> [I DIDN'T WANTED ANYTHING FROM YOU I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE THERE TO SHARE MY HAPPINESS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjana/i-didn-t-wanted-anything-from-you-i-just-wanted-you-to-be-there-to/)

[ANJANA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjana/)

> [There is a woman who swam around Manhattan, and I asked her, why? She said, it hadn't ever been done before. Well, she didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/there-is-a-woman-who-swam-around-manhattan-and-i-asked-her-why-she/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [I had a pursuit different from others because they all came from downtown areas with money, but I didn't have any. All I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhou-qunfei/i-had-a-pursuit-different-from-others-because-they-all-came-from/)

[Zhou Qunfei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhou-qunfei/)

> [I waited at the counter of a white restaurant for eleven years. When they finally integrated, they didn't have what I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/i-waited-at-the-counter-of-a-white-restaurant-for-eleven-years-when/)

[Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/)

> [At home, growing up, we weren't really poor. We had everything we needed, we just didn't have what we wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/at-home-growing-up-we-weren-t-really-poor-we-had-everything-we-needed/)

[Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/)

> [“If motherhood doesn't interest you, don't do it. It didn't interest me, so I didn't do it. Anyway, I would have made a terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/if-motherhood-doesn-t-interest-you-don-t-do-it-it-didn-t-interest-me/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [I'm sorry," I say. "I didn't give you everything you wanted. I wasn't everything you wanted. You were everything I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/i-m-sorry-i-say-i-didn-t-give-you-everything-you-wanted-i-wasn-t/)

[Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/)

> [“Sometimes, you didn’t get what you wanted. But if you had all you needed? Life was good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/sometimes-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted-but-if-you-had-all-you/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [“He didn't ask because he didn't wanted to know. If you know, moments die an instant death. She held his hand in hers; hiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aporvakala/he-didn-t-ask-because-he-didn-t-wanted-to-know-if-you-know-moments/)

[APORVAKALA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aporvakala/)

> [I didn't go to L.A. because I wanted to move to California. I went to L.A. to work as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/i-didn-t-go-to-l-a-because-i-wanted-to-move-to-california-i-went-to-l/)

[Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/)

> [“It seemed I was torn; I wanted my goodbye, and I didn't. I wanted him to make me stay, and I wanted to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mariano/it-seemed-i-was-torn-i-wanted-my-goodbye-and-i-didn-t-i-wanted-him-to/)

[Sam Mariano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-mariano/)

> [Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-what-you-get-when-you-didn-t-get-what-you-wanted/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

## More by David Geffen

> [Most of the artists were trying to make a living, trying to get laid, trying to figure out who they were. They weren't trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/most-of-the-artists-were-trying-to-make-a-living-trying-to-get-laid/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [In Los Angeles, they don't want you to fail, they want you to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/in-los-angeles-they-don-t-want-you-to-fail-they-want-you-to-die/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [Your life isn't made up of people who aren't in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/your-life-isn-t-made-up-of-people-who-aren-t-in-it/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [Move to California. Malibu is paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/move-to-california-malibu-is-paradise/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [HIV infection and AIDS is growing - but so too is public apathy. We have already lost too many friends and colleagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/hiv-infection-and-aids-is-growing-but-so-too-is-public-apathy-we-have/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [You have an idea of the way you think it is, and it's not that way at all, it's something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/you-have-an-idea-of-the-way-you-think-it-is-and-it-s-not-that-way-at/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [I'm not Sammy Glick. I've never killed anyone. I don't have to. I'm too talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/i-m-not-sammy-glick-i-ve-never-killed-anyone-i-don-t-have-to-i-m-too/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [I'm Billy the Kid, the fastest draw. It's not arrogance. It's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/i-m-billy-the-kid-the-fastest-draw-it-s-not-arrogance-it-s-the-truth/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [Happy is harder than money. Anybody who thinks money will make you happy hasn't got money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/happy-is-harder-than-money-anybody-who-thinks-money-will-make-you/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [To be able to live and work in the United States is a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/to-be-able-to-live-and-work-in-the-united-states-is-a-privilege/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [I just needed a job. Before being hired as an usher at the CBS Theater, I didn't even know there was a show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/i-just-needed-a-job-before-being-hired-as-an-usher-at-the-cbs-theater/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [Everybody in politics lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/everybody-in-politics-lies/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [Everybody in politics lies, but they do it with such ease, it's troubling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/everybody-in-politics-lies-but-they-do-it-with-such-ease-it-s/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [The concept known as bal tashchit--'Do no destroy'--has a special significance in Jewish tradition...We are constantly being warned in our faith that the capricious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/the-concept-known-as-bal-tashchit-do-no-destroy-has-a-special/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

> [I have no talent except for being able to enjoy and recognize it in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/i-have-no-talent-except-for-being-able-to-enjoy-and-recognize-it-in/)

[David Geffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

[Explore all 33 David Geffen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/)

## More Both quotes

> [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/)

[Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

> [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/)

[Bill Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-luther/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

> [I am excited to partner with Aeropostale for my very own collection. It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/)

[Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/)

> [I went straight from high school to 'Gossip Girl,' and both were very structured, scheduled environments, so I never had freedom to explore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-went-straight-from-high-school-to-gossip-girl-and-both-were-very/)

[Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/)

> [My characters in both 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' films were so relatable that every other guy connects with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/my-characters-in-both-pyaar-ka-punchnama-films-were-so-relatable-that/)

[Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/)

> [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/)

[Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/)

> [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/)

[Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/)

> [Everyone knows that when you go through a divorce, it's a really difficult time for both parties and you've all - you believe, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mills/everyone-knows-that-when-you-go-through-a-divorce-it-s-a-really/)

[Heather Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mills/)

> [The U.S.-China relationship, of course, has elements of both cooperation and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-donilon/the-u-s-china-relationship-of-course-has-elements-of-both-cooperation/)

[Thomas E. Donilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-donilon/)

> [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/)

[Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/)

> [Both my wife and I are optimists and we look at the positives in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/both-my-wife-and-i-are-optimists-and-we-look-at-the-positives-in-life/)

[Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/)

> [I am married to a writer, and this - writing - is an odd enterprise. It's something we both support very strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-am-married-to-a-writer-and-this-writing-is-an-odd-enterprise-it-s/)

[Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/)

> [But if you listen to great piano players, both classical and jazz, there's a huge range of dynamics and colors and emotional expression that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/but-if-you-listen-to-great-piano-players-both-classical-and-jazz/)

[Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/)

[Browse all 2,155 Both quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties didn't get what they wanted.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Geffen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlement-both-parties-didn-t-get/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Both"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlement-both-parties-didn-t-get/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/david-geffen-19199_both_it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlem_814727.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's the perfect definition of a settlement. Both parties didn't get what they wanted.” — David Geffen",
                "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": "David Geffen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-geffen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's the perfect definition of a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlement-both-parties-didn-t-get/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-geffen/it-s-the-perfect-definition-of-a-settlement-both-parties-didn-t-get/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
