--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Expecting perfection from ourselves or…" description: "\"Expecting perfection from ourselves or others is not what holiness is about.\" — Kevin DeYoung" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_expecting-perfection-from-ourselves-or-o_624809.png" --- # Expecting perfection from ourselves or others is not what… ![“Expecting perfection from ourselves or others is not what holiness is about.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_expecting-perfection-from-ourselves-or-o_624809.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_expecting-perfection-from-ourselves-or-o_624809.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_expecting-perfection-from-ourselves-or-o_624809.png) > “Expecting perfection from ourselves or others is not what holiness is about.” [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holiness is about grace, not flawless performance; perfectionism hinders spiritual growth. **In simple terms:** Holiness embraces imperfection and grace. Key Takeaway Seek grace, not perfect standards. Themes spirituality grace perfectionism Mood contemplative encouraging Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - counseling - personal development - faith practice - teaching Key Concepts theology psychology self-compassion Questions to Reflect On - How does striving for perfection affect your faith? - What practices foster graceful living? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on perfection can cause anxiety and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Evangelical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelical/) [Evangelism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-words/) ## Related quotes > [“If the possibility of holiness is so plain in the Bible, why do we find it so hard to believe? Probably the biggest reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/if-the-possibility-of-holiness-is-so-plain-in-the-bible-why-do-we/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [All of our holy fathers knew this and all with one accord teach that perfection in holiness can be achieved only through humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/all-of-our-holy-fathers-knew-this-and-all-with-one-accord-teach-that/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [“And you could try to stop pretending to be so fucking perfect. Maybe then people will stop expecting perfection all the time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/and-you-could-try-to-stop-pretending-to-be-so-fucking-perfect-maybe/) [Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/) > [If you're expecting perfection from me then walk right out of my life and don't let reality hit you on the way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-expecting-perfection-from-me-then-walk-right-out-of-my-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Friendships aren't perfect and yet they are very precious. For me, not expecting perfection all in one place was a great release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letty-cottin-pogrebin/friendships-aren-t-perfect-and-yet-they-are-very-precious-for-me-not/) [Letty Cottin Pogrebin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letty-cottin-pogrebin/) > [“If you just stop expecting perfection from everyone and everything, you might see the good stuff outweighs the bad. And then maybe someday you’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-jade-lange/if-you-just-stop-expecting-perfection-from-everyone-and-everything-2/) [Erin Jade Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-jade-lange/) > [When I realized that nothing is perfect and no one is perfect, I was able to overcome my initial fears. I was holding myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinessa-shaw/when-i-realized-that-nothing-is-perfect-and-no-one-is-perfect-i-was/) [Vinessa Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinessa-shaw/) > [“If you just stop expecting perfection from everyone and everything, you might see the good stuff outweighs the bad. And then someday you'll look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-jade-lange/if-you-just-stop-expecting-perfection-from-everyone-and-everything/) [Erin Jade Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-jade-lange/) > [Expecting perfection inevitably leads to disappointment. A more realistic goal is for husbands and wives to work, learn and grow together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/expecting-perfection-inevitably-leads-to-disappointment-a-more/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [God is more concerned with conforming me to the likeness of His Son than leaving me in my comfort zones. God is more interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/god-is-more-concerned-with-conforming-me-to-the-likeness-of-his-son/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [When God gets ready to shake America, He may not take the Ph.D. and the D.D. God may choose a country boy ... God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-god-gets-ready-to-shake-america-he-may-not-take-the-ph-d-and-the/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“You’ve got to be driven to become successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/you-ve-got-to-be-driven-to-become-successful/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [“Everything would have been for nothing just because I simply didn’t listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/everything-would-have-been-for-nothing-just-because-i-simply-didn-t/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [I owe my nurture to evangelicalism. The evangelical wins hands down in the history of the church when it comes to nurturing a biblically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/i-owe-my-nurture-to-evangelicalism-the-evangelical-wins-hands-down-in/) Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk > [“I was so sure that I knew what they needed and what I wanted to sell them that I never stopped long enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/i-was-so-sure-that-i-knew-what-they-needed-and-what-i-wanted-to-sell/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) ## More by Kevin DeYoung > [“Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/worry-about-the-future-is-not-simply-a-character-tic-it-is-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. 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