--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes to time, the perfect is a…" description: "\"“When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly subversive enemy of the good.”\" — Laura Vanderkam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg" --- # When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly… ![“When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly subversive enemy of the good.” quote by Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg) > ““When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly subversive enemy of the good.”” [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism can hinder progress; striving for flawless timing becomes a subversive obstacle to good outcomes. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism blocks good results. Key Takeaway Accept good enough to move forward. Themes productivity perfectionism time management Mood motivational practical Type self‑help productivity When to use this quote - project planning - daily routines - creative work Key Concepts goal setting incremental improvement Questions to Reflect On - When have you let perfection stall you? - How can you balance quality and speed? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on perfection can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comes Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-time/) [Disarmingly Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarmingly-subversive-2193869/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive/) [Subversive Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive-enemy-2193870/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-perfect-1361085/) ## Related quotes > [Perfection takes time, but its a waste of time because nobody's perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perfection-takes-time-but-its-a-waste-of-time-because-nobody-s-perfect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It will never be a perfect time, you can only make time perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/it-will-never-be-a-perfect-time-you-can-only-make-time-perfect/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [Time will perfect matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/time-will-perfect-matter/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [You don't need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/you-don-t-need-endless-time-and-perfect-conditions-do-it-now-do-it/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [He is not only a God of perfect time, but of perfect timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/he-is-not-only-a-god-of-perfect-time-but-of-perfect-timing/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I enjoy making music and take my time to do everything until it is 'perfect.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-enjoy-making-music-and-take-my-time-to-do-everything-until-it-is/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [“We don't have time for perfect. In any event, perfection is unachievable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/we-don-t-have-time-for-perfect-in-any-event-perfection-is-unachievable/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [You can't always wait for the perfect time to do something. Sometimes you need to take step forward and make the time perfect by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/you-can-t-always-wait-for-the-perfect-time-to-do-something-sometimes/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Look - every time is the wrong time and the perfect time to have a kid, and you just do it when you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/look-every-time-is-the-wrong-time-and-the-perfect-time-to-have-a-kid/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [I love dresses, and I've definitely thought about designing them someday. I just want to make sure that I wait until the time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-love-dresses-and-i-ve-definitely-thought-about-designing-them/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I took my time to find the perfect girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-namath/i-took-my-time-to-find-the-perfect-girl/) [Joe Namath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-namath/) > [Everyone has a certain part of their lives ,where they truly wish they could just freeze time.Whether it was 3 years ago ,today or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/everyone-has-a-certain-part-of-their-lives-where-they-truly-wish-they/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [God has a time for everything, a perfect schedule. He is never too soon, never too late. The when of His will is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/god-has-a-time-for-everything-a-perfect-schedule-he-is-never-too-soon/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) > [There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/there-comes-a-time-in-the-affairs-of-man-when-he-must-take-the-bull/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [All of us depend on fate. But I have to openly say that there comes a time when I've had enough of fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-heinz-rummenigge/all-of-us-depend-on-fate-but-i-have-to-openly-say-that-there-comes-a/) [Karl-Heinz Rummenigge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-heinz-rummenigge/) ## More by Laura Vanderkam > [“You have one energy resource that is used for all kinds of acts for self-control. That includes not just resisting food temptations, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-have-one-energy-resource-that-is-used-for-all-kinds-of-acts-for/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“You need to hit Monday ready to go ... To do that, you need weekends that rejuvenate you, rather than exhaust or disappoint you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-need-to-hit-monday-ready-to-go-to-do-that-you-need-weekends-that/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“you can choose how to spend your 168 hours, and you have more time than you think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-can-choose-how-to-spend-your-168-hours-and-you-have-more-time/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“Even if you don’t have kids at home, morning time can be great for nurturing your relationship with your spouse, other family members, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/even-if-you-don-t-have-kids-at-home-morning-time-can-be-great-for/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/instead-of-saying-i-don-t-have-time-try-saying-it-s-not-a-priority/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast),”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“the force of the water drop that hollows the stone. A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/the-force-of-the-water-drop-that-hollows-the-stone-a-small-daily-task/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“The best morning rituals are activities that don’t have to happen and certainly don’t have to happen at a specific hour. These are activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/the-best-morning-rituals-are-activities-that-don-t-have-to-happen-and/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“If you choose your life's work well, something bewitching can happen through your labors. Each hour you log can be a source of joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/if-you-choose-your-life-s-work-well-something-bewitching-can-happen/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“What the most successful people know about weekends is that life cannot happen only in the future. It cannot wait for some day when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/what-the-most-successful-people-know-about-weekends-is-that-life/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“This is what happens when you treat your 168 hours as a blank slate. This is what happens when you fill them up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/this-is-what-happens-when-you-treat-your-168-hours-as-a-blank-slate/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) [Explore all 12 Laura Vanderkam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) ## More Perfection quotes > [I'm tired of looking for the perfect guy. From now on.. he can look for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-tired-of-looking-for-the-perfect-guy-from-now-on-he-can-look-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [You know why you're not perfect? You do everything perfectly and you think you are perfect, but the mere fact that you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-why-you-re-not-perfect-you-do-everything-perfectly-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/asanas-bring-perfection-in-body-beauty-in-form-grace-strength/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Sorrow and happiness are the heresies of virtue; joy and anger lead astray from TAO; love and hate cause loss of virtue. The heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/sorrow-and-happiness-are-the-heresies-of-virtue-joy-and-anger-lead/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“I watch the perfectly imperfect people several stories below, living their perfectly imperfect lives, and I think about how many decades will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-watch-the-perfectly-imperfect-people-several-stories-below-living/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [To make one good action succeed another, is the perfection of goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/to-make-one-good-action-succeed-another-is-the-perfection-of-goodness/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [“I’ve been the queen of symmetry and everything had to be in identical balance, no matter how you looked at it. But I’ve realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taryn-leigh/i-ve-been-the-queen-of-symmetry-and-everything-had-to-be-in-identical/) [Taryn Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taryn-leigh/) > [I accept you can't achieve perfection all the time, but you can achieve perfection of intent, maybe. I don't think you can go into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-accept-you-can-t-achieve-perfection-all-the-time-but-you-can/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [“perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/perfection-is-finally-attained-not-when-there-is-no-longer-anything/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) [Browse all 4,253 Perfection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly subversive enemy of the good.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laura Vanderkam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-disarmingly-subversive-enemy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Perfection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-disarmingly-subversive-enemy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/laura-vanderkam-32288_perfection_when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-d_2631409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly subversive enemy of the good.” — Laura Vanderkam", "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": "Laura Vanderkam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When it comes to time, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-disarmingly-subversive-enemy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-disarmingly-subversive-enemy/#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 } } ] } ```