Cowardice Quote by Fernando Pessoa
““I'm always horrified whenever I finish anything. Horrified and desolate. My instinct for perfection should inhibit me from ever finishing anything; it should in fact inhibit me from ever beginning. But I become distracted and do things. My accomplishments are not the product of my applied will but a giving away of my will. I begin because I don't have the strength to think; I finish because I don't have soul enough to stop things. This book is my cowardice.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa, 1913
The speaker feels terror at completion, seeing perfectionism as a barrier that both prevents starting and forces finishing without true will, revealing a cycle of distraction and emptiness.
In simple terms: Finishing feels scary; perfectionism blocks true effort.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection and finish with intention.
Themes
perfectionism
self‑sabotage
creativity
identity
existential doubt
Mood
anxious
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
confessional
When to use this quote
- writing projects
- artistic endeavors
- personal goals
- career tasks
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does finishing mean to you?
- How can you balance perfection with action?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize struggle, ignoring the value of disciplined progress.
![“[D]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)