---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many people acknowledge they can never be…"
description: "\"“Many people acknowledge they can never be perfect. They say, \"I'm not perfect, so what's the point? I'm not even gonna try.”\" — Emily P. Freeman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg"
---

#  Many people acknowledge they can never be perfect. They…

![“Many people acknowledge they can never be perfect. They say, &quot;I'm not perfect, so what's the point? I'm not even gonna try.” quote by Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg)

> ““Many people acknowledge they can never be perfect. They say, "I'm not perfect, so what's the point? I'm not even gonna try.””

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

## About This Quote

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

It observes that people often accept imperfection, leading to apathy and a lack of effort.

**In simple terms:** Accepting imperfection can stop us from trying.

Key Takeaway

Embrace imperfection, still act.

Themes

perfectionism motivation self‑doubt effort

Mood

motivational encouraging

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal goals
- skill development
- mental health
- creative projects

Key Concepts

growth mindset self‑acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you try if fear of imperfection vanished?
- How can you reframe "not perfect"?

A Different Perspective

Perfection is unattainable, but progress is possible.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [They say that nobody is perfect, then they say that practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-that-nobody-is-perfect-then-they-say-that-practice-makes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You're perfect. In all you say. In all you do. In all you are. You're perfect to me in every way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-h/you-re-perfect-in-all-you-say-in-all-you-do-in-all-you-are-you-re/)

Vicky H

> [“I was just thinking now was as good a time as any to acknowledge that you’re perfect and it wouldn’t suck if you fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-was-just-thinking-now-was-as-good-a-time-as-any-to-acknowledge-that/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [Nothing is perfect, so what's the point of purpose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-perfect-so-what-s-the-point-of-purpose/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Obviously it's a great feeling for people to acknowledge you and know who you are and they're getting to know you better, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-hudson-odoi/obviously-it-s-a-great-feeling-for-people-to-acknowledge-you-and-know/)

[Callum Hudson-Odoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-hudson-odoi/)

> [Obviously as a player, it's good to feel wanted, and it's good for other people to acknowledge what you've been doing on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-levert/obviously-as-a-player-it-s-good-to-feel-wanted-and-it-s-good-for/)

[Caris LeVert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-levert/)

> [“To acknowledge the existence of other people is also to acknowledge that they are not reliable sources of safety or comfort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/to-acknowledge-the-existence-of-other-people-is-also-to-acknowledge/)

[Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/)

> [there are some people who never acknowledge themselves in the wrong; God help them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/there-are-some-people-who-never-acknowledge-themselves-in-the-wrong/)

[Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sevigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/)

> [It's reassuring to have people acknowledge the fact that I can be versatile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhura-naik/it-s-reassuring-to-have-people-acknowledge-the-fact-that-i-can-be/)

[Madhura Naik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhura-naik/)

> [Many people spend their entire lifetimes wishing that other people would acknowledge them. They feel this especially about their parents, spouses, children, and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/many-people-spend-their-entire-lifetimes-wishing-that-other-people/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [You know you don't have to be the most popular kid in the school to have people acknowledge your presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-phillips/you-know-you-don-t-have-to-be-the-most-popular-kid-in-the-school-to/)

[Jeanne Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-phillips/)

> [“If everything is perfect, nobody has to say a word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-upton/if-everything-is-perfect-nobody-has-to-say-a-word/)

[Tom Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-upton/)

> [“Perfect, you say? That was your problem. It is our imperfections that make us endlessly fascinating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-craft/perfect-you-say-that-was-your-problem-it-is-our-imperfections-that/)

Kathryn Craft

> [“I know I'm not a perfect dad, Amber. But I'm trying." You don't have to be perfect, I say."Just be my dad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-danziger/i-know-i-m-not-a-perfect-dad-amber-but-i-m-trying-you-don-t-have-to/)

[Paula Danziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-danziger/)

> [Everyone says I luk perfect as who I am,but I say sometimes quite a different look also seems falwless..;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dd/everyone-says-i-luk-perfect-as-who-i-am-but-i-say-sometimes-quite-a/)

DD

## More by Emily P. Freeman

> [“This is also a book abut God, about what it means--and what it doesn't mean--to believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/this-is-also-a-book-abut-god-about-what-it-means-and-what-it-doesn-t/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“But understand that the reason it is so difficult to extend forgiveness to those who have failed us is because we are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/but-understand-that-the-reason-it-is-so-difficult-to-extend/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“He (God) never promises that our families will be safe. Not in the way we think. He does promise his presence, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/he-god-never-promises-that-our-families-will-be-safe-not-in-the-way/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“Without looking up to God, sinking leads to drowning. But when my eyes are locked on his, sinking tells a different story. Drop the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/without-looking-up-to-god-sinking-leads-to-drowning-but-when-my-eyes/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“I didn't want to be such a good girl anymore. I wanted people to fear messing with me. ... I wanted to be intimidating.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/i-didn-t-want-to-be-such-a-good-girl-anymore-i-wanted-people-to-fear/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“Steven Pressfield writes in his bestselling book The War of Art, “Self-doubt can be an ally. This is because it serves as an indicator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/steven-pressfield-writes-in-his-bestselling-book-the-war-of-art-self/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“God gives us the courage to face those fears and then invites us to move toward him in the midst of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/god-gives-us-the-courage-to-face-those-fears-and-then-invites-us-to/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“Maybe you're wondering what it actually means to live a graceful life. We've got many chapters ahead to figure out what that might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/maybe-you-re-wondering-what-it-actually-means-to-live-a-graceful-life/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“... the voice of the Dreamer convinced me that 'later' would always be better than 'now', that 'someday' is where life will really happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/the-voice-of-the-dreamer-convinced-me-that-later-would-always-be/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“Because I care so much about what you think, my hiding has everything to do with you. I desperately want to manage your opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/because-i-care-so-much-about-what-you-think-my-hiding-has-everything/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“The question I constantly asked myself was this: What am I supposed to do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/the-question-i-constantly-asked-myself-was-this-what-am-i-supposed-to/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“When we listen to the voice of the Dreamer and hide behind our somedays, we miss out on the gifts of today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/when-we-listen-to-the-voice-of-the-dreamer-and-hide-behind-our/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“...being a good girl is more about what you believe on the inside that how you behave on the outside. That means whether you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/being-a-good-girl-is-more-about-what-you-believe-on-the-inside-that/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“You miss the living because you are waiting for perfect, and so you let goodness and blessings pass you right on by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/you-miss-the-living-because-you-are-waiting-for-perfect-and-so-you/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

> [“That's what service does. It points us to Jesus, not to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/that-s-what-service-does-it-points-us-to-jesus-not-to-ourselves/)

[Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

[Explore all 67 Emily P. Freeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/)

## More Perfect Say quotes

> [Everyone says I luk perfect as who I am,but I say sometimes quite a different look also seems falwless..;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dd/everyone-says-i-luk-perfect-as-who-i-am-but-i-say-sometimes-quite-a/)

DD

> [“I know I'm not a perfect dad, Amber. But I'm trying." You don't have to be perfect, I say."Just be my dad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-danziger/i-know-i-m-not-a-perfect-dad-amber-but-i-m-trying-you-don-t-have-to/)

[Paula Danziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-danziger/)

> [“Perfect, you say? That was your problem. It is our imperfections that make us endlessly fascinating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-craft/perfect-you-say-that-was-your-problem-it-is-our-imperfections-that/)

Kathryn Craft

> [“If everything is perfect, nobody has to say a word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-upton/if-everything-is-perfect-nobody-has-to-say-a-word/)

[Tom Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-upton/)

> [I say to you: Make perfect your will. / I say: take no thought of the harvest, / But only of proper sowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/i-say-to-you-make-perfect-your-will-i-say-take-no-thought-of-the/)

[T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/)

> [And was the day of my delight As pure and perfect as I say?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/and-was-the-day-of-my-delight-as-pure-and-perfect-as-i-say/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [“they say nobodys perfect yet they say practice make perfect”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-juarez/they-say-nobodys-perfect-yet-they-say-practice-make-perfect/)

Daisy Juarez

> [“You're perfect. In all you say. In all you do. In all you are. You're perfect to me in every way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-h/you-re-perfect-in-all-you-say-in-all-you-do-in-all-you-are-you-re/)

Vicky H

> [They say that nobody is perfect, then they say that practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-that-nobody-is-perfect-then-they-say-that-practice-makes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Fuck off with your sofa units and strine green stripe patterns, I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say let...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/fuck-off-with-your-sofa-units-and-strine-green-stripe-patterns-i-say/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

Browse all 11 Perfect Say quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Many people acknowledge they can never be perfect. They say, \"I'm not perfect, so what's the point? I'm not even gonna try.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Emily P. Freeman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-be-perfect-they-say-i-m-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Perfect Say"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-be-perfect-they-say-i-m-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/emily-p-freeman-10156_quote_many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-b_1539946.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Many people acknowledge they can never be perfect. They say, \"I'm not perfect, so what's the point? I'm not…” — Emily P. Freeman",
                "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": "Emily P. Freeman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Many people acknowledge they can never...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-be-perfect-they-say-i-m-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/many-people-acknowledge-they-can-never-be-perfect-they-say-i-m-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
