--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the first lie that perfectionism…" description: "\"“This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about goals: Quit if it isn’t perfect.”\" — Jon Acuff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg" --- # This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about… ![“This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about goals: Quit if it isn’t perfect.” quote by Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg) > ““This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about goals: Quit if it isn’t perfect.”” [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism creates a false standard for goals, leading to inaction; accept imperfection to move forward. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism stops progress; act despite flaws. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfect action. Themes perfectionism goal‑setting motivation Mood determined practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - project planning - creative work - personal goals Key Concepts growth mindset risk‑taking self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you define “good enough”? A Different Perspective May lead to low‑quality outcomes if standards are too low. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-quit-426739/) [Lie Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-perfectionism-4871674/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) [Perfectionism Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism-tells-3505457/) [Tells Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells-goals-4871675/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s the Very Good Reason you cannot pursue your goal. Perfectionism will tell you, “If you’re going to do it, you might as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/it-s-the-very-good-reason-you-cannot-pursue-your-goal-perfectionism/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [Have dreams/goals and never quit working toward achieving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rodriguez/have-dreams-goals-and-never-quit-working-toward-achieving-them/) [Adam Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rodriguez/) > [You don't reach your goals because you QUIT when things don't happen fast enough for you. The bigger the goal the longer it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-don-t-reach-your-goals-because-you-quit-when-things-don-t-happen/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“perfectionism is a desperate attempt to live up to impossible standards. Perfectionism will do anything to protect those impossible standards. It can’t let you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/perfectionism-is-a-desperate-attempt-to-live-up-to-impossible/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Unfortunately, perfectionism dies slowly. It’s persistent and particularly dangerous because it masquerades as excellence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/unfortunately-perfectionism-dies-slowly-it-s-persistent-and/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“most of us carry secret rules for how we’re supposed to live our lives. That’s the brilliance of perfectionism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/most-of-us-carry-secret-rules-for-how-we-re-supposed-to-live-our/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“It’s Too Hard Remember, perfectionism has no sense of gray, things are only black or white. You do it perfectly or you don’t do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/it-s-too-hard-remember-perfectionism-has-no-sense-of-gray-things-are/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Reviewing your past is one of the best ways to understand who you really are and how you’ll work best on a goal. Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/reviewing-your-past-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-understand-who-you/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“We wouldn’t play if we knew the whole game was impossible, so perfectionism promises us that we just need to follow some secret rules.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/we-wouldn-t-play-if-we-knew-the-whole-game-was-impossible-so/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Until” is just perfectionism wearing a Halloween costume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/until-is-just-perfectionism-wearing-a-halloween-costume/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Perfectionism always makes things harder and more complicated. Finishers make things easier and simpler. The next time you work on a goal, I dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/perfectionism-always-makes-things-harder-and-more-complicated/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“But more than just analysis, perfectionism offers us two distinct distractions: Hiding places Noble obstacles A hiding place is an activity you focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/but-more-than-just-analysis-perfectionism-offers-us-two-distinct/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“There’s Still Time Perfectionism will tell you that you’ve spent so long in a hiding place that there’s no more time. You’ve missed some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/there-s-still-time-perfectionism-will-tell-you-that-you-ve-spent-so/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Keep going even when the going is slow and uncertain. Make your dream your prayer and your service. Don’t wait for recognition. Let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-g-renee-hill/keep-going-even-when-the-going-is-slow-and-uncertain-make-your-dream/) [G.G. Renee Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-g-renee-hill/) > [“I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-think-perfectionism-is-based-on-the-obsessive-belief-that-if-you/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by Jon Acuff > [“The way you pass through the land of Learning is that you try a bunch of things. Fear would love for you to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/the-way-you-pass-through-the-land-of-learning-is-that-you-try-a-bunch/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“There is no in-between, just two extremes. That’s the land of noble obstacles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/there-is-no-in-between-just-two-extremes-that-s-the-land-of-noble/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“The real tragedy of a one-hit wonder is when someone succeeds once and then never tries again. No matter your circumstances, if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/the-real-tragedy-of-a-one-hit-wonder-is-when-someone-succeeds-once/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“done, we will never work. There will always be one more amazing distraction. Our minds will do anything to avoid the challenge of focusing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/done-we-will-never-work-there-will-always-be-one-more-amazing/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“All you have to do is win more today than you did yesterday and repeat the whole thing tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/all-you-have-to-do-is-win-more-today-than-you-did-yesterday-and/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“In situations like that, all of your focus and energy need to be placed on the actions dial. You’ll have to dramatically increase your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/in-situations-like-that-all-of-your-focus-and-energy-need-to-be/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“If you’re watching Netflix every time it’s time for you to do X, that’s a hiding place. You’re afraid to face the fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/if-you-re-watching-netflix-every-time-it-s-time-for-you-to-do-x-that/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“To deal with our secret rules, we have to do three things: Identify them. Destroy them. Replace them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/to-deal-with-our-secret-rules-we-have-to-do-three-things-identify/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“perfectionism is a desperate attempt to live up to impossible standards. Perfectionism will do anything to protect those impossible standards. It can’t let you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/perfectionism-is-a-desperate-attempt-to-live-up-to-impossible/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Cut your goal in half. Choose what you’ll bomb. Make it fun if you want it done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/cut-your-goal-in-half-choose-what-you-ll-bomb-make-it-fun-if-you-want/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Your emotions cloud your judgment. They form a perfect smoke screen for denial, making your path in life feel murky and confusing. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/your-emotions-cloud-your-judgment-they-form-a-perfect-smoke-screen/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Writers aren’t the only ones who use the first kind of noble obstacle. I know some guys who say they can’t work out until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/writers-aren-t-the-only-ones-who-use-the-first-kind-of-noble-obstacle/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“If you ever have to do a complicated, multistep explanation to say why what you’re doing is valuable, it probably isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/if-you-ever-have-to-do-a-complicated-multistep-explanation-to-say-why/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [Don't compare you beginning with someone Else's middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/don-t-compare-you-beginning-with-someone-else-s-middle/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“Hiding places are tricky like that. They make you feel like you’re doing well when in reality you’re not getting anywhere on your most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/hiding-places-are-tricky-like-that-they-make-you-feel-like-you-re/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) [Explore all 78 Jon Acuff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about goals: Quit if it isn’t perfect.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jon Acuff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism-tells-you-about-goals-quit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism-tells-you-about-goals-quit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/jon-acuff-8706_goals_this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism_1394779.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about goals: Quit if it isn’t perfect.” — Jon Acuff", "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": "Jon Acuff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This is the first lie that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism-tells-you-about-goals-quit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/this-is-the-first-lie-that-perfectionism-tells-you-about-goals-quit/#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 } } ] } ```