--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But what's so great about being a…" description: "\"But what's so great about being a perfectionist?... You do all this work, and then the stuff you've made just pisses you off.\" — Lionel Shriver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/lionel-shriver-744_excellence_but-what-s-so-great-about-being-a-perfec_968521.jpg" --- # But what's so great about being a perfectionist?... You do… ![“But what's so great about being a perfectionist?... You do all this work, and then the stuff you've made just pisses you off.” quote by Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/lionel-shriver-744_excellence_but-what-s-so-great-about-being-a-perfec_968521.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/lionel-shriver-744_excellence_but-what-s-so-great-about-being-a-perfec_968521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/lionel-shriver-744_excellence_but-what-s-so-great-about-being-a-perfec_968521.jpg) > “But what's so great about being a perfectionist?... You do all this work, and then the stuff you've made just pisses you off.” [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism often leads to frustration when outcomes fall short of expectations. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism causes disappointment. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and focus on progress. Themes perfectionism frustration self‑criticism productivity Mood critical determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - work projects - creative writing - academic work - personal goals Key Concepts psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What standards are realistic for you? - How can you celebrate partial successes? A Different Perspective Striving for perfection can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Perfectionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionist/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe in perfection. I don't think there is such a thing. But the energy of wanting things to be great is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/i-don-t-believe-in-perfection-i-don-t-think-there-is-such-a-thing-but/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) > [“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/) > [After my matches, I would get so frustrated if something went wrong because I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and I work so hard. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-cargill/after-my-matches-i-would-get-so-frustrated-if-something-went-wrong/) [Jade Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-cargill/) > [“A perfectionist will work on a task or project until he or she feels it is perfect. The downside of doing so is wasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-zahariades/a-perfectionist-will-work-on-a-task-or-project-until-he-or-she-feels/) [Damon Zahariades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-zahariades/) > [Music was important in our childhood. It wasn't something that we had to do. My father's attitude was, 'If you want to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/music-was-important-in-our-childhood-it-wasn-t-something-that-we-had/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [Just kind of finding it, that's what Spring Training is for, to work on stuff and get ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-martinez/just-kind-of-finding-it-that-s-what-spring-training-is-for-to-work-on/) [J. D. Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-martinez/) > [When I do have time to work on music, I'm kind of selfish, and would rather work on my own stuff than someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-do-have-time-to-work-on-music-i-m-kind-of-selfish-and-would/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I like to see how other people work and be part of their stuff and see what I can do to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-like-to-see-how-other-people-work-and-be-part-of-their-stuff-and/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [I don't know which is more nutty. All this stuff I do outside of work, or the stuff I do all week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-which-is-more-nutty-all-this-stuff-i-do-outside-of-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love the people I work with and the stuff I've found and that's found me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-love-the-people-i-work-with-and-the-stuff-i-ve-found-and-that-s/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem pretty stupid or pointless but that doesn't matter... some of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/i-like-to-use-my-hands-and-make-things-it-might-seem-pretty-stupid-or/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [It's not about the fame and the money because if you do good work all that stuff comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cassidy/it-s-not-about-the-fame-and-the-money-because-if-you-do-good-work-all/) [David Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cassidy/) > [I'm always willing to work stuff out, because I'm that type of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-always-willing-to-work-stuff-out-because-i-m-that-type-of-guy/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I don't want to work on stuff I don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigesato-itoi/i-don-t-want-to-work-on-stuff-i-don-t-like/) Shigesato Itoi > [I am a perfectionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-perfectionist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lionel Shriver > [The discovery that heartbreak is indeed heartbreaking consoles us about our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/the-discovery-that-heartbreak-is-indeed-heartbreaking-consoles-us/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“I’m a journalist, and journalists need news. Deprive them of it, and they go a bit barking. Deprive them of news long enough, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-m-a-journalist-and-journalists-need-news-deprive-them-of-it-and/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“One of the things I learned with Charles," said Gray carefully, "was that finding someone like you does not necessarily mean that either of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/one-of-the-things-i-learned-with-charles-said-gray-carefully-was-that/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [In the particular dwells the tawdry. In the conceptual dwells the grand, the transcendent, the everlasting. Earthly countries and single malignant boys can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/in-the-particular-dwells-the-tawdry-in-the-conceptual-dwells-the/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“The idea is that you don't only have one destiny. Younger and younger, kids are pressed to decide what they want to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/the-idea-is-that-you-don-t-only-have-one-destiny-younger-and-younger/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Oddly, for a book to do well merely because people like it is surprisingly rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/oddly-for-a-book-to-do-well-merely-because-people-like-it-is/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [The sign that I don't like the book I'm reading is finding myself watching reruns of 'Come Dine With Me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/the-sign-that-i-don-t-like-the-book-i-m-reading-is-finding-myself/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [We speak often of 'destroying the planet' when what we mean is destroying its habitability for humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/we-speak-often-of-destroying-the-planet-when-what-we-mean-is/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [My agent had warned that, while a fine film would do my profile a world of good, a bad one wouldn't help me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/my-agent-had-warned-that-while-a-fine-film-would-do-my-profile-a/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“I think that's the biggest favor you can grant anyone, don't you? Permission to be dull. I know Henry will sometimes say something so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-think-that-s-the-biggest-favor-you-can-grant-anyone-don-t-you/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“They were determined to find something mechanically wrong with him - because broken machines are easier to fix. p303”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/they-were-determined-to-find-something-mechanically-wrong-with-him/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“Bur Armenians have a talent for sorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/bur-armenians-have-a-talent-for-sorrow/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“What is cool changes; that there is such a thing as cool is immutable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/what-is-cool-changes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as-cool-is-immutable/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“I have theorized that you can locate most people on a spectrum of the crudest sort and that it may be their position on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-have-theorized-that-you-can-locate-most-people-on-a-spectrum-of-the/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) [Explore all 375 Lionel Shriver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) ## More Excellence quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But what's so great about being a perfectionist?... 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