--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem was that I carried around…" description: "\"“The problem was that I carried around with me a tendency to feel that other people’s respect for me would vanish if what I did was second rate. And wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-cleese-1768_anxiety_the-problem-was-that-i-carried-around-wi_848221.jpg" --- # The problem was that I carried around with me a tendency… ![“The problem was that I carried around with me a tendency to feel that other people’s respect for me would vanish if what I did was second rate. And while I accept that this “perfectionism” is likely to stimulate the production of better work, it doesn’t, unfortunately, go hand in hand with a…” quote by John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-cleese-1768_anxiety_the-problem-was-that-i-carried-around-wi_848221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-cleese-1768_anxiety_the-problem-was-that-i-carried-around-wi_848221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-cleese-1768_anxiety_the-problem-was-that-i-carried-around-wi_848221.jpg) > ““The problem was that I carried around with me a tendency to feel that other people’s respect for me would vanish if what I did was second rate. And while I accept that this “perfectionism” is likely to stimulate the production of better work, it doesn’t, unfortunately, go hand in hand with a relaxed and happy attitude to life.”” [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism drives quality but harms happiness; seeking balance is essential. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism harms happiness. Key Takeaway Pursue excellence without sacrificing joy. Themes self‑esteem perfectionism well‑being Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - personal relationships - mental health Key Concepts self‑criticism achievement anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How can one maintain standards while staying relaxed? - What practices foster a happy, productive mindset? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-perfectionism-719650/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) [Perfectionism Likely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism-likely-719651/) [Perfectionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionist/) [Problem Carried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-carried-719652/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Vanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-vanish-719653/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/all-of-us-failed-to-match-our-dreams-of-perfection/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“It is common to come across a perfectionist at work. Life is not that tough if you have a perfectionist sub-ordinate; life is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/it-is-common-to-come-across-a-perfectionist-at-work-life-is-not-that/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) > [“Perfectionists will choose activities that are low risk that they can do well right now instead of working on big projects because they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/perfectionists-will-choose-activities-that-are-low-risk-that-they-can/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [I have to say that I've always believed perfectionism is more of a disease than a quality. I do try to go with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/i-have-to-say-that-i-ve-always-believed-perfectionism-is-more-of-a/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [Anything worth doing is worth doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/anything-worth-doing-is-worth-doing-well/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Find the perfection in every moment instead of trying to make every moment perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnalynn-civello/find-the-perfection-in-every-moment-instead-of-trying-to-make-every/) [Donnalynn Civello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnalynn-civello/) > [“From the point of view of a perfectionist, it’s a frustrating lifestyle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-edwards/from-the-point-of-view-of-a-perfectionist-it-s-a-frustrating-lifestyle/) [Stephen D. Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-edwards/) > [I've learned how my own perfectionism can cripple me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-nettles/i-ve-learned-how-my-own-perfectionism-can-cripple-me/) [Jennifer Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-nettles/) > [“Living as a perfectionist means thinking and living in “black and white” – there are no grey areas. You are either perfect with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-skelly/living-as-a-perfectionist-means-thinking-and-living-in-black-and/) [Samantha Skelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-skelly/) > [“Q: When is the perfect time? A: Who can say, but probably somewhere between haste and delay - and it's usually most wise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/q-when-is-the-perfect-time-a-who-can-say-but-probably-somewhere/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [Ring the bells that still can ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/ring-the-bells-that-still-can-ring/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [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 really a challenge for me, and it causes me to be super-critical of myself in so many ways: about body image constantly;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-nettles/perfectionism-is-really-a-challenge-for-me-and-it-causes-me-to-be/) [Jennifer Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-nettles/) > [Fuck you perfectionism. Without you, I am brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fuck-you-perfectionism-without-you-i-am-brilliant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Cleese > [Too many people confuse being serious with being solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/too-many-people-confuse-being-serious-with-being-solemn/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [years ago we would have been burned for this. Now what I am suggesting is that we've advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/years-ago-we-would-have-been-burned-for-this-now-what-i-am-suggesting/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I think that sometimes you do something that makes a small group of people laugh, which is all we were trying to do; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-that-sometimes-you-do-something-that-makes-a-small-group-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The very essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen, the feeling that whatever happens, it's okay... you're either free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-very-essence-of-playfulness-is-an-openness-to-anything-that-may/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Loving your neighbour as much as yourself is practically bloody impossible? You might as well have a commandment that states,'Thou shalt fly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/loving-your-neighbour-as-much-as-yourself-is-practically-bloody/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Creativity is not the possession of some special talent. It’s about the willingness to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/creativity-is-not-the-possession-of-some-special-talent-it-s-about/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [England is a fairly envious little country and it's embodied in the press. They don't like anyone being more distinguished than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/england-is-a-fairly-envious-little-country-and-it-s-embodied-in-the/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-used-to-desire-many-many-things-but-now-i-have-just-one-desire-and/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I think the hard thing for young comedians is that the majority of the young people in the audience out there don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-the-hard-thing-for-young-comedians-is-that-the-majority-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I wish you wusses would stop whining about your unhappiness. I'm really fed up with it. Pour yourself a scotch and pull yourself together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-wish-you-wusses-would-stop-whining-about-your-unhappiness-i-m/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [On movies, I like to involve the cast in the writing of the script. I like to have a rehearsal period, after which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/on-movies-i-like-to-involve-the-cast-in-the-writing-of-the-script-i/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I had a very, very difficult relationship with my mother, who was supremely self-centred. She was hilariously self-centred. She did not really take interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-had-a-very-very-difficult-relationship-with-my-mother-who-was/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nothing will stop you being creative more effectively as the fear of making a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nothing-will-stop-you-being-creative-more-effectively-as-the-fear-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-was-very-sad-to-hear-of-the-death-of-ronnie-barker-who-was-such-a/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) [Explore all 209 John Cleese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The problem was that I carried around with me a tendency to feel that other people’s respect for me would vanish if what I did was second rate. 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