--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you demand perfection or nothing, you…" description: "\"“If you demand perfection or nothing, you will always end up with nothing.”\" — Francis Schaeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg" --- # If you demand perfection or nothing, you will always end… ![“If you demand perfection or nothing, you will always end up with nothing.” quote by Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg) > ““If you demand perfection or nothing, you will always end up with nothing.”” [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Demanding perfection or nothing leads to perpetual emptiness. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism yields nothing. Key Takeaway Set realistic standards, accept imperfection. Themes perfectionism expectations failure Mood motivational cautious Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - relationships Key Concepts psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What would you achieve if you accepted good enough? - How can you balance excellence and progress? A Different Perspective Unrealistic standards can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) ## Related quotes > [Demand perfection of yourself and you'll seldom attain it. Fear of making a mistake is the biggest single cause of making one. Relax -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-winter/demand-perfection-of-yourself-and-you-ll-seldom-attain-it-fear-of/) Lloyd Winter > [Perfectionists demand perfection from themselves first and foremost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/perfectionists-demand-perfection-from-themselves-first-and-foremost/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Sometimes when we search for perfection we end up realizing the opposite is true: That there is no perfection to be found or attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/sometimes-when-we-search-for-perfection-we-end-up-realizing-the/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Perfection has to do with the end product, but excellence has to do with the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-moran/perfection-has-to-do-with-the-end-product-but-excellence-has-to-do/) [Jerry Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-moran/) > [I've always gone for a kind of perfection. In the end, it's so much better to get the feeling of, "Wow, she's so perfect,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-simmons/i-ve-always-gone-for-a-kind-of-perfection-in-the-end-it-s-so-much/) [Laurie Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-simmons/) > [No good work whatever can be perfect, and the demand for perfection is always a sign of a misunderstanding of the ends of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-good-work-whatever-can-be-perfect-and-the-demand-for-perfection-is-2/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Sometimes human always demand perfection without never see the reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-human-always-demand-perfection-without-never-see-the-reality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you demand perfection within yourself, you become more fallible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-you-demand-perfection-within-yourself-you-become-more-fallible/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [In a fallen world, if you demand perfection or nothing, you will always get nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/in-a-fallen-world-if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you-will-always/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [“You clean and organize; you demand perfection—did you ever wonder why?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/you-clean-and-organize-you-demand-perfection-did-you-ever-wonder-why/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [People tell me I'm a perfectionist. They tell me I'm too extreme and that I work too hard. I tell them, that is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-tell-me-i-m-a-perfectionist-they-tell-me-i-m-too-extreme-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [Love doesn't demand perfection, but it does ask you to give yourself with less reserve than you'd prefer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moore/love-doesn-t-demand-perfection-but-it-does-ask-you-to-give-yourself/) [Thomas Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moore/) > [There is no better news than that the God who makes the demand for perfection also meets the demand for perfection on our behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/there-is-no-better-news-than-that-the-god-who-makes-the-demand-for/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [I demand perfection in what I do, and I practice very hard before I give a concert-sometimes three to six hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-demand-perfection-in-what-i-do-and-i-practice-very-hard-before-i/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [We demand of our political life greater certainty and greater perfection than we demand of our personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/we-demand-of-our-political-life-greater-certainty-and-greater/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) ## More by Francis Schaeffer > [Jesus taught that the mark of the Christian is the observable love shown among all true believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/jesus-taught-that-the-mark-of-the-christian-is-the-observable-love/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As evangelical Christians we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Belief does not change what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/belief-does-not-change-what-is/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The overall way of thinking in the United States has shifted away from basic Biblical values, and the media share in the responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-overall-way-of-thinking-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-away/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In God's world the individual counts. Therefore, Christian art should deal with the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/in-god-s-world-the-individual-counts-therefore-christian-art-should/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As evangelical Christians, we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very-2/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In the 20th century, evangelical Christians in America have naively accepted the role assigned to us by an anti-religious, anti-Christian consensus in our society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/in-the-20th-century-evangelical-christians-in-america-have-naively/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Humanism is not wrong in its cry for sociological healing, but humanism is not producing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/humanism-is-not-wrong-in-its-cry-for-sociological-healing-but/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [To die is to be with the Lord. It is not just an idea, it is a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/to-die-is-to-be-with-the-lord-it-is-not-just-an-idea-it-is-a-reality/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [If the church is what it should be, young people will be there. But they will not just 'be there' - they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-the-church-is-what-it-should-be-young-people-will-be-there-but/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [With the Fall all became abnormal. It is not just that the individual is separated from God by his true moral guilt, but each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/with-the-fall-all-became-abnormal-it-is-not-just-that-the-individual/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [There is nothing more ugly than an orthodoxy without understanding or compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/there-is-nothing-more-ugly-than-an-orthodoxy-without-understanding-or/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [This is not an age in which to be a soft Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/this-is-not-an-age-in-which-to-be-a-soft-christian/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The great distinction of a true Christian is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How careful should he be, lest anything in his thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-great-distinction-of-a-true-christian-is-the-indwelling-of-the/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) [Explore all 158 Francis Schaeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## More Demand quotes > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Money should be ones demand and command one should not become slave of money..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/money-should-be-ones-demand-and-command-one-should-not-become-slave/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) [Browse all 3,809 Demand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you demand perfection or nothing, you will always end up with nothing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Schaeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you-will-always-end-up-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Demand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you-will-always-end-up-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-schaeffer-2607_excellence_if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you_1319615.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you demand perfection or nothing, you will always end up with nothing.” — Francis Schaeffer", "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": "Francis Schaeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you demand perfection or nothing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you-will-always-end-up-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-you-demand-perfection-or-nothing-you-will-always-end-up-with/#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 } } ] } ```