--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perfectionism is a slow death…If…" description: "\"“Perfectionism is a slow death…If everything were to turn out just as I would want it, just as I would plan, I would never experience anything new. My ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/hugh-prather-3404_death_perfectionism-is-a-slow-death-if-everyth_1489952.png" --- # Perfectionism is a slow death…If everything were to turn… ![“Perfectionism is a slow death…If everything were to turn out just as I would want it, just as I would plan, I would never experience anything new. My life would be an endless repetition of stale successes. When I make a mistake I experience something unexpected.” quote by Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/hugh-prather-3404_death_perfectionism-is-a-slow-death-if-everyth_1489952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/hugh-prather-3404_death_perfectionism-is-a-slow-death-if-everyth_1489952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fc/hugh-prather-3404_death_perfectionism-is-a-slow-death-if-everyth_1489952.png) > ““Perfectionism is a slow death…If everything were to turn out just as I would want it, just as I would plan, I would never experience anything new. My life would be an endless repetition of stale successes. When I make a mistake I experience something unexpected.”” [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism stifles growth; embracing mistakes opens doors to unexpected learning and fresh experiences. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism blocks growth; mistakes bring new learning. Key Takeaway Allow mistakes to teach you. Themes growth mistakes learning creativity risk Mood reflective motivational Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career development - artistic creation - personal goals Key Concepts mindset self‑acceptance innovation Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from a recent mistake? - How might you redefine success? A Different Perspective The drive for excellence can still be healthy if balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) ## Related quotes > [perfectionism is a slow death. if everything were to turn out just like i would want it to, just like i would plan for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/perfectionism-is-a-slow-death-if-everything-were-to-turn-out-just/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Perfectionism is slow death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/perfectionism-is-slow-death/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [A wonderful pastor I know once told me, "Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse." So now I try to remind myself that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-perfectionism-is-the-highest/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [Perfectionism is the counterfeit of excellence. Excellence is Kingdom, while perfectionism is religion. What ever you do, do it with all you might, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/perfectionism-is-the-counterfeit-of-excellence-excellence-is-kingdom/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [If you are a real perfectionist, you can't finish any job! We, the mortals, we don't have enough time to be perfectionist! Perfectionism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-are-a-real-perfectionist-you-can-t-finish-any-job-we-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Perfectionism is a perpetual flight into an illusory future that cannot be attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/perfectionism-is-a-perpetual-flight-into-an-illusory-future-that/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“Research shows, however, that anxiety is linked to some aspects of perfectionism but not others. Specifically, while anxious people are concerned about mistakes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-petersen/research-shows-however-that-anxiety-is-linked-to-some-aspects-of/) Andrea Petersen > [“Perfection may not be possible, but striving for excellence is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/perfection-may-not-be-possible-but-striving-for-excellence-is/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“You know, the whole thing about perfectionism. The perfectionism is very dangerous. Because of course if your fidelity to perfectionism is too high, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/you-know-the-whole-thing-about-perfectionism-the-perfectionism-is/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [To strive to be perfect is going down the road of self-destruction. 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I am here to the degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/ultimately-my-character-is-defined-by-the-quality-of-my-sensitivity/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“I wish" assumes that I know what is the opposite of my present experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-wish-assumes-that-i-know-what-is-the-opposite-of-my-present/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. 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