--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no such thing as perfection…" description: "\"There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. You want to su..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/jascha-heifetz-33675_enough_there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-the_2047132.png" --- # There is no such thing as perfection, there are only… ![“There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. You want to surpass it.” quote by Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/jascha-heifetz-33675_enough_there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-the_2047132.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/jascha-heifetz-33675_enough_there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-the_2047132.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/jascha-heifetz-33675_enough_there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-the_2047132.png) > “There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. You want to surpass it.” [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is unattainable; standards evolve, and surpassing them drives continual improvement. **In simple terms:** Perfection doesn't exist; standards grow. Key Takeaway Strive to exceed your own standards. Themes excellence growth standards self‑improvement Mood determined inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - musical practice - career development - skill training Key Concepts psychology performance theory Questions to Reflect On - What standards motivate you? - How do you balance ambition and satisfaction? A Different Perspective Obsessing over standards can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfection Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-standards-3839954/) [Set Standard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-standard-248527/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-set/) [Thing Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-perfection-1117488/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Never set out to be the best. It's too low a standard. Set out to be good. Do Your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/never-set-out-to-be-the-best-it-s-too-low-a-standard-set-out-to-be/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [Standards are different for all things, so the standard set by man is by no means the only 'certain' standard. If you mistake what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/standards-are-different-for-all-things-so-the-standard-set-by-man-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Nobody owes anybody anything; it's up to each individual to set high standards for himself or herself, and to set about working hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/nobody-owes-anybody-anything-it-s-up-to-each-individual-to-set-high/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [EPA gets to set a standard for new. For the existing, EPA sets guidelines for what we think is appropriate, but then states develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-mccarthy/epa-gets-to-set-a-standard-for-new-for-the-existing-epa-sets/) [Gina McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-mccarthy/) > [I don't think there's any such thing as perfection. But I'm a perfectionist. I don't believe in the idea of perfection, but I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-such-thing-as-perfection-but-i-m-a/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [The thing with perfection is that it's never perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/the-thing-with-perfection-is-that-it-s-never-perfect/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [There is no one that you'll ever find that is perfect. God made us in his own image, isn't that the closest thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pettersen/there-is-no-one-that-you-ll-ever-find-that-is-perfect-god-made-us-in/) [David Pettersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pettersen/) > [The thing about perfection is that it is unknowable, it's impossible, but its also right in front of us, all the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-flynn/the-thing-about-perfection-is-that-it-is-unknowable-it-s-impossible/) [Kevin Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-flynn/) > [“There is no such thing as perfection, only improvement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-hinds/there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-only-improvement/) [Marsha Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-hinds/) > [Perfection is sharpened by passing through debacle without fear & come out with belief & confidence.Perfection is not doing extraordinary thing,perfection is doing ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/perfection-is-sharpened-by-passing-through-debacle-without-fear-come/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [People say that there is no such thing as perfection. I disagree. Because when I look at you, that's the first word that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassidy-saddoris/people-say-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-i-disagree/) [Cassidy Saddoris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassidy-saddoris/) > [Does the real thing ever have the perfection of a stage performance?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/does-the-real-thing-ever-have-the-perfection-of-a-stage-performance/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Even more, in the created thing, is a perfection that she exists; since the greatest of all imperfections is, not to exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/even-more-in-the-created-thing-is-a-perfection-that-she-exists-since/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“There is no such thing as perfection and it is okay for you to have negative thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-and-it-is-okay-for-you-to-have/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“The end goal of all of this striving is to live joyfully, and that there are often more direct ways of achieving this than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-end-goal-of-all-of-this-striving-is-to-live-joyfully-and-that/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## More by Jascha Heifetz > [The discipline of practice every day is essential. When I skip a day, I notice a difference in my playing. After two days, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/the-discipline-of-practice-every-day-is-essential-when-i-skip-a-day-i/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [Practice like it means everything in the world to you. Perform like you don't give a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/practice-like-it-means-everything-in-the-world-to-you-perform-like/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [If the Almighty himself played the violin, the credits would still read 'Rubinstein, God, and Piatigorsky', in that order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/if-the-almighty-himself-played-the-violin-the-credits-would-still/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [Can you appreciate music without playing it? Yes, you can. You can appreciate baseball without playing it. Many people attend a football game merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/can-you-appreciate-music-without-playing-it-yes-you-can-you-can/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [No matter what side of an argument you're on, you always find some people on your side that wish you were on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/no-matter-what-side-of-an-argument-you-re-on-you-always-find-some/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [I have discovered three things which know no geographical borders - classical music, American jazz, and applause as the sign of the public's favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/i-have-discovered-three-things-which-know-no-geographical-borders/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [I occasionally play works by contemporary composers and for two reasons. First to discourage the composer from writing any more and secondly to remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/i-occasionally-play-works-by-contemporary-composers-and-for-two/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [Criticism does not disturb me, for I am my own severest critic. Always in my playing I strive to surpass myself, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/criticism-does-not-disturb-me-for-i-am-my-own-severest-critic-always/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [When people come to play music as they do to play bridge, civilization will have taken the longest stride forward since the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/when-people-come-to-play-music-as-they-do-to-play-bridge-civilization/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [Music has a lot in common with mathematics. But in music, two and two need not make four: they add up to whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/music-has-a-lot-in-common-with-mathematics-but-in-music-two-and-two/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [Just make it (his obituary): born in Russia, first lesson at 3, debut at 7, debut in America in 1917.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/just-make-it-his-obituary-born-in-russia-first-lesson-at-3-debut-at-7/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [If I don't practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/if-i-don-t-practice-one-day-i-know-it-two-days-the-critics-know-it/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [There is no top. There are always further heights to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/there-is-no-top-there-are-always-further-heights-to-reach/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) [Explore all 14 Jascha Heifetz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) ## More Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) [Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) [Browse all 23,898 Enough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. 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