--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't aim for perfect. Aim for complete…" description: "\"Don't aim for perfect. Aim for complete. Perfection is an unattainable illusion.\" — Lisa Genova" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/lisa-genova-9213_aim_don-t-aim-for-perfect-aim-for-complete-p_2728834.jpg" --- # Don't aim for perfect. Aim for complete. Perfection is an… ![“Don't aim for perfect. Aim for complete. Perfection is an unattainable illusion.” quote by Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/lisa-genova-9213_aim_don-t-aim-for-perfect-aim-for-complete-p_2728834.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/lisa-genova-9213_aim_don-t-aim-for-perfect-aim-for-complete-p_2728834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/lisa-genova-9213_aim_don-t-aim-for-perfect-aim-for-complete-p_2728834.jpg) > “Don't aim for perfect. Aim for complete. Perfection is an unattainable illusion.” [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is unattainable; aim for completeness and wholeness instead. **In simple terms:** Seek wholeness, not impossible perfection. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection, pursue wholeness. Themes perfection wholeness realism Mood motivational reflective Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - goal setting - mental health - creative work Key Concepts psychology self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What does completeness look like in your life? - How can you let go of perfectionism? A Different Perspective Perfection can motivate improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Aim Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim-perfect-502128/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-aim-2939589/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfection Unattainable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-unattainable-804009/) [Unattainable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unattainable/) [Unattainable Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unattainable-illusion-2939590/) ## Related quotes > [Don't aim to be perfect! Aim to be antifragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/don-t-aim-to-be-perfect-aim-to-be-antifragile/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [The maxims tell you to aim at perfection, which is well; but it's unattainable, all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/the-maxims-tell-you-to-aim-at-perfection-which-is-well-but-it-s/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [Perfection is an unattainable goal. It isn't going to be perfect. Just get words down on paper, and when you stumble to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/perfection-is-an-unattainable-goal-it-isn-t-going-to-be-perfect-just/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Perfection is unattainable, so I like to live in imperfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/perfection-is-unattainable-so-i-like-to-live-in-imperfection/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [True perfection is unattainable, but if you chase perfection you will catch excellence!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/true-perfection-is-unattainable-but-if-you-chase-perfection-you-will/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The scope for improvement is infinite, precisely because perfection is unattainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/the-scope-for-improvement-is-infinite-precisely-because-perfection-is/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [“Perfection’s unattainable but it isn’t unapproachable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-watts/perfection-s-unattainable-but-it-isn-t-unapproachable/) [Peter Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-watts/) > [Philosophers say that perfection is unattainable. Lithographers redefine perfection according to SEMI standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-goldberg/philosophers-say-that-perfection-is-unattainable-lithographers/) [Ken Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-goldberg/) > [You shouldn't be sorry for not being perfect. Why would you want to be perfect. If you are there is nothing to aim for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-shouldn-t-be-sorry-for-not-being-perfect-why-would-you-want-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've got a wife who never misses me. Her aim is perfect!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-ve-got-a-wife-who-never-misses-me-her-aim-is-perfect/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [When you see your target.your aim is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodie-flowers/when-you-see-your-target-your-aim-is-perfect/) [Woodie Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodie-flowers/) > [“For whatever it's worth, I believe we're born imperfect, and perfection, whatever that may be, is unattainable by us mere humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-m-wiemer/for-whatever-it-s-worth-i-believe-we-re-born-imperfect-and-perfection/) [Liza M. Wiemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-m-wiemer/) > [Don't shoot for something unattainable - completely outside of your nature or opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/don-t-shoot-for-something-unattainable-completely-outside-of-your/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The chances are that you have already come to believe that happiness is unattainable. But men have attained it. And they have attained it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-chances-are-that-you-have-already-come-to-believe-that-happiness/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [By the time you get into other kinds of music - R&B, country, or whatever - it becomes something that's romantic. It becomes something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/by-the-time-you-get-into-other-kinds-of-music-r-b-country-or-whatever/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) ## More by Lisa Genova > [“I miss myself." "I miss you too, Ali, so much." "I never planned to get like this." "I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/i-miss-myself-i-miss-you-too-ali-so-much-i-never-planned-to-get-like/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“Please don't look at our scarlet A's and write us off. Look us in the eye, talk directly to us. Don't panic or take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/please-don-t-look-at-our-scarlet-a-s-and-write-us-off-look-us-in-the/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“She's said she doesn't want to. Go ahead and ask her. Just because she has Alzheimer's doesn't mean she doesn't know what she does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/she-s-said-she-doesn-t-want-to-go-ahead-and-ask-her-just-because-she/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“It's like you don't get that she's not gone yet, like you think her time left isn't meaningful anymore. You're acting like a selfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/it-s-like-you-don-t-get-that-she-s-not-gone-yet-like-you-think-her/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [But I am not what I say or what I do or what I remember. I am fundamentally more than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/but-i-am-not-what-i-say-or-what-i-do-or-what-i-remember-i-am/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [Be creative, be useful, be practical, be generous and finish big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/be-creative-be-useful-be-practical-be-generous-and-finish-big/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“Everything begins and ends. Every day and night, every concerto, every relationship, every life. Everything ends eventually.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/everything-begins-and-ends-every-day-and-night-every-concerto-every/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“I can’t fathom the day when I’ll be able to figure out how to independently maneuver my way into my bra, like I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/i-can-t-fathom-the-day-when-i-ll-be-able-to-figure-out-how-to/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“And, like a lightning strike, there is his example. His mother before him. The lesson that she passed down for him to pass on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/and-like-a-lightning-strike-there-is-his-example-his-mother-before/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“Bob keeps insisting that I can do anything I put my mind to. But he’s referring to my old mind. My new mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/bob-keeps-insisting-that-i-can-do-anything-i-put-my-mind-to-but-he-s/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“She could always walk somewhere without him. Of course this somewhere had to be somewhere "safe." She could walk to her office. But she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/she-could-always-walk-somewhere-without-him-of-course-this-somewhere/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“Slide, turn, slide. I smile as we’re snowboarding, knowing that Bob and the kids are hanging back to watch me, knowing that Bob is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/slide-turn-slide-i-smile-as-we-re-snowboarding-knowing-that-bob-and/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“What’s the saying? Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/what-s-the-saying-not-forgiving-someone-is-like-drinking-poison-and/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [“The spectrum is long and wide, and we're all on it. Once you believe this, it becomes easy to see how we're all connected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/the-spectrum-is-long-and-wide-and-we-re-all-on-it-once-you-believe/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) > [ ... just because \[butterflies'\] lives were short didn't mean they were tragic... See, they have a beautiful life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/just-because-butterflies-lives-were-short-didn-t-mean-they-were/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) [Explore all 71 Lisa Genova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't aim for perfect. Aim for complete. 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