--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Carlos Castaneda always said, \"If you're…" description: "\"Carlos Castaneda always said, \"If you're going to do something, do it impeccably.\"\" — Jeffrey Tambor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg" --- # Carlos Castaneda always said, "If you're going to do… ![“Carlos Castaneda always said, "If you're going to do something, do it impeccably."” quote by Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg) > “Carlos Castaneda always said, "If you're going to do something, do it impeccably."” [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should pursue any task with flawless execution, aiming for the highest standards. **In simple terms:** Do everything perfectly. Key Takeaway Strive for excellence. Themes excellence discipline personal growth Mood motivational serious Type inspirational pragmatic When to use this quote - career projects - artistic performance - daily habits Key Concepts perfectionism focus quality Questions to Reflect On - When is “good enough” acceptable? - How to balance perfection with practicality? A Different Perspective Perfection can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ## Related quotes > [“Carlos Castaneda said, “We can make ourselves miserable, or we can make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timber-hawkeye/carlos-castaneda-said-we-can-make-ourselves-miserable-or-we-can-make/) [Timber Hawkeye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timber-hawkeye/) > [Beautifully shot, impeccably paced, it was a clear, unrelenting look at the National Trust, its friends and enemies, and it makes you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/beautifully-shot-impeccably-paced-it-was-a-clear-unrelenting-look-at/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Most people tell themselves these excuses - I've always been this way, this is my nature, I can't help it - that are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/most-people-tell-themselves-these-excuses-i-ve-always-been-this-way-2/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [ Milla Jovovich introduced me to \[anthropologist and author of the Don Juan series of books involving shamanic peyote rituals\] Carlos Castaneda because I was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/milla-jovovich-introduced-me-to-anthropologist-and-author-of-the-don/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [“I gather from Don Juan’s teachings that psychotropics are used to stop the flow of ordinary interpretations and to shatter certainty. CARLOS CASTANEDA, VOICES…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fadiman/i-gather-from-don-juan-s-teachings-that-psychotropics-are-used-to/) [James Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fadiman/) > [I have chosen to parody the writing styles of Carlos Castaneda, James Redfield, Richard Bach, Lynn Andrews, and several other best-selling new age authors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-have-chosen-to-parody-the-writing-styles-of-carlos-castaneda-james/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Don Juan, in the teacings of Carlos Castaneda, makes the same point. You have to fool people into seeking knowlege. People will not do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/don-juan-in-the-teacings-of-carlos-castaneda-makes-the-same-point-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Victor Wooten is the Carlos Castaneda of music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-levin/victor-wooten-is-the-carlos-castaneda-of-music/) [Tony Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-levin/) > [There are two sides to a person's being - the superconscious and the conscious. These have reverberations in the popular works of Carlos Castaneda,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-two-sides-to-a-person-s-being-the-superconscious-and-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” ~ Carlos Castaneda”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-obear/we-either-make-ourselves-miserable-or-we-make-ourselves-strong-the/) [Kathy Obear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-obear/) > [“- You said that going on the Road to Santiago is important. For it, one must give up everything for some time: family, work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-said-that-going-on-the-road-to-santiago-is-important-for-it-one/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“I've missed you so much, Savannah. I want to tell you now that we're both back in Georgia, I'm going to do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tressie-lockwood/i-ve-missed-you-so-much-savannah-i-want-to-tell-you-now-that-we-re/) Tressie Lockwood > [ “I’m going to lose weight for you,” she \[Valencia Merble\] said. “What?” “I’m going to go on a diet. I’m going to become beautiful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-m-going-to-lose-weight-for-you-she-valencia-merble-said-what-i-m/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [oh my god, she said are you going to be reasonable about this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/oh-my-god-she-said-are-you-going-to-be-reasonable-about-this/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [What about you three, where are you going?" Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) ## More by Jeffrey Tambor > [I think I made $55 a week, and it was bliss... I was doing theater. It was all I ever wanted to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-i-made-55-a-week-and-it-was-bliss-i-was-doing-theater-it-was/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I'm the voice of a Chipotle Burrito. The world has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-m-the-voice-of-a-chipotle-burrito-the-world-has-changed/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I had a bilateral lisp, and I was overweight. I was the kid who played with the flowers on the ground in the outfield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-had-a-bilateral-lisp-and-i-was-overweight-i-was-the-kid-who-played/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I think Maura'is funnier than I am, wittier than I am, more intelligent than I am, and I think she's just floating me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-maura-is-funnier-than-i-am-wittier-than-i-am-more-intelligent/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [There are secrets in families. That is the definition of a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/there-are-secrets-in-families-that-is-the-definition-of-a-family/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I can't say enough about the guts and the talents of Amazon. They're so agile, they're so nimble; they picked us up two weeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-can-t-say-enough-about-the-guts-and-the-talents-of-amazon-they-re/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I think shows being sent out this way - pressing a button and 10 episodes can go out to the U.S.A., and the U.K.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-shows-being-sent-out-this-way-pressing-a-button-and-10/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [We are part of the zeitgeist, and we are communicating in a human, real way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/we-are-part-of-the-zeitgeist-and-we-are-communicating-in-a-human-real/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [The Tambors were conservative Jews, and we attended Temple Beth Shalom at 14th Avenue and Clement Street in San Francisco. We were the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/the-tambors-were-conservative-jews-and-we-attended-temple-beth-shalom/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Usually when you act, you know where you're going, where the point is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/usually-when-you-act-you-know-where-you-re-going-where-the-point-is/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [At the beginning of the Larry Sanders show, you know, we were grateful to get guests. At the end, it was as if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/at-the-beginning-of-the-larry-sanders-show-you-know-we-were-grateful/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I don't like show business. I don't like the business. I love acting. I love this. I love talking to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-don-t-like-show-business-i-don-t-like-the-business-i-love-acting-i/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Families are families are families are families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/families-are-families-are-families-are-families/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [The 'Hey now's' are delivered as people pass me. As I just get near ear range, I hear, 'Hey now!' and that's very funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/the-hey-now-s-are-delivered-as-people-pass-me-as-i-just-get-near-ear/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [People are identifying not only with the trans movement, but also the Pfefferman family. What I am noticing is people are coming up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/people-are-identifying-not-only-with-the-trans-movement-but-also-the/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) [Explore all 143 Jeffrey Tambor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Carlos Castaneda always said, \"If you're going to do something, do it impeccably.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Tambor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-going-to-do-something-do-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-going-to-do-something-do-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/jeffrey-tambor-2977_carlos-castaneda_carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-g_2181483.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Carlos Castaneda always said, \"If you're going to do something, do it impeccably.\"” — Jeffrey Tambor", "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": "Jeffrey Tambor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Carlos Castaneda always said, \"If you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-going-to-do-something-do-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/carlos-castaneda-always-said-if-you-re-going-to-do-something-do-it/#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 } } ] } ```