--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not a very sane thing to try to be…" description: "\"It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time.\" — Lykke Li" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png" --- # It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time. ![“It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time.” quote by Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png) > “It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time.” [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns against the unsustainable pursuit of constant greatness. **In simple terms:** Being great all the time is unhealthy. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and rest. Themes perfectionism mental health expectations Mood melancholic introspective Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - creative careers - sports - academic pursuits - personal development Key Concepts self‑compassion realistic goals Questions to Reflect On - What defines “great” for you? - How can you balance ambition with wellbeing? A Different Perspective Pressure can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time. You want to make something magical; you want to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be-great-all-the-time-you-want/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I have just returned from Boston. It is the only sane thing to do if you find yourself up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/i-have-just-returned-from-boston-it-is-the-only-sane-thing-to-do-if/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [I don't particularly think marriage is a sane thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-young/i-don-t-particularly-think-marriage-is-a-sane-thing/) [Sean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-young/) > [“BREXIT? So mental a political tap dance, that it makes riding a porcupine bareback over a cliff seem the only sane thing to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-merrick/brexit-so-mental-a-political-tap-dance-that-it-makes-riding-a/) [Steve Merrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-merrick/) > [Attention to detail and consistency...don't have to try to be great...you already are... you got the system...do your work scheme wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/attention-to-detail-and-consistency-don-t-have-to-try-to-be-great-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I really want to try to become a great actress when I get older and continue to do what I'm doing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/i-really-want-to-try-to-become-a-great-actress-when-i-get-older-and/) [Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/) > [Try to do a great things in your life Because your world starts FROM YOU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/try-to-do-a-great-things-in-your-life-because-your-world-starts-from/) [Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [You try to go where the great scripts are, if you can, or you go where the not great scripts are, because that's what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lang/you-try-to-go-where-the-great-scripts-are-if-you-can-or-you-go-where/) [Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lang/) > [If our goal is to write poetry, the only way we are likely to be any good is to try to be as great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/if-our-goal-is-to-write-poetry-the-only-way-we-are-likely-to-be-any/) [Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/) > [Good things come to those who wait, Better things come to those who try, Great things come to those who explore..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-better-things-come-to-those-who-2/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Don't try to be a great man. Just be a man and let history make its own judgements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-frakes/don-t-try-to-be-a-great-man-just-be-a-man-and-let-history-make-its/) [Jonathan Frakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-frakes/) > [Don't try to be something you're not, and find some great songs because there is still an interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-wagoner/don-t-try-to-be-something-you-re-not-and-find-some-great-songs/) [Porter Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-wagoner/) > [That's kind of the mission statement for the label: to try to do great music that touches people's hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-skaggs/that-s-kind-of-the-mission-statement-for-the-label-to-try-to-do-great/) [Ricky Skaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-skaggs/) > [I don't try to be average. That's boring. That's not what life's about. I try to be great in everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/i-don-t-try-to-be-average-that-s-boring-that-s-not-what-life-s-about/) [Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/) > [Don’t just try to find great opportunities. Find an opportunity and make it great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/don-t-just-try-to-find-great-opportunities-find-an-opportunity-and/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) ## More by Lykke Li > [I'm just not interested in getting judged or getting people to love me. Being seen and taking my photo and having to follow this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-m-just-not-interested-in-getting-judged-or-getting-people-to-love/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Touring is really about being on edge the whole time - you're like a racing horse: you've just got to be on. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/touring-is-really-about-being-on-edge-the-whole-time-you-re-like-a/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I always feel like I've been slightly misunderstood. As a woman, you get judged for appearances or things like that I don't really care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-always-feel-like-i-ve-been-slightly-misunderstood-as-a-woman-you/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [You can become quite blase, and also, I have no sense of home; I don't have roots. I've never had that feeling that someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/you-can-become-quite-blase-and-also-i-have-no-sense-of-home-i-don-t/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [When I play, I'm so in the moment that I can't really remember what happened afterwards. It's a rare experience for a thinking person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-play-i-m-so-in-the-moment-that-i-can-t-really-remember-what/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I hate the fact you always feel like you have to be going somewhere, like the end destination is to be finished, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-hate-the-fact-you-always-feel-like-you-have-to-be-going-somewhere/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Some people watch comedy to relax. I watch '21 Grams.' I can recognize sadness and tragedy really easily because it's been with me forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/some-people-watch-comedy-to-relax-i-watch-21-grams-i-can-recognize/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I am deeply in tune with my heart and core, and it's made me a better writer, artist, and most of all woman. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-am-deeply-in-tune-with-my-heart-and-core-and-it-s-made-me-a-better/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [It's the ultimate task to do something stripped back, so you're not hiding behind anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-the-ultimate-task-to-do-something-stripped-back-so-you-re-not/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I've always been a person that is searching for truth and always wants to go further, deeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-ve-always-been-a-person-that-is-searching-for-truth-and-always/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I always strive for freedom: freedom of thought and expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-always-strive-for-freedom-freedom-of-thought-and-expression/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [If anything, I want to be seen as a singer-songwriter rather than a pop artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/if-anything-i-want-to-be-seen-as-a-singer-songwriter-rather-than-a/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I remember watching Romeo + Juliet when I was 14 and listening to the soundtrack. When I hear that soundtrack now, all those emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-remember-watching-romeo-juliet-when-i-was-14-and-listening-to-the/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [It's not about being a sex prostitute. It's about this power play in the war of the sexes. It's a rat race, like, "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-about-being-a-sex-prostitute-it-s-about-this-power-play-in/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) [Explore all 139 Lykke Li quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) ## More Sane quotes > [No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/no-sane-local-official-who-has-hung-up-an-empty-stocking-over-the/) [Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/) > [When I'm away from basketball, I'm the biggest kid. I do a good job of keeping myself sane. But on the other hand, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/when-i-m-away-from-basketball-i-m-the-biggest-kid-i-do-a-good-job-of/) [Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/) > [Nobody sane wants just to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/nobody-sane-wants-just-to-be-famous/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [As far as I remember, even younger than eight, I have always been guided by reason. Not cold reason, but that which leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-claude/as-far-as-i-remember-even-younger-than-eight-i-have-always-been/) [Albert Claude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-claude/) > [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My principles are only those that, before the French Revolution, every well-born person considered sane and normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/my-principles-are-only-those-that-before-the-french-revolution-every/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [I don't really trust a sane person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-alzado/i-don-t-really-trust-a-sane-person/) [Lyle Alzado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-alzado/) > [Art is man determined to die sane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-devoto/art-is-man-determined-to-die-sane/) [Bernard DeVoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-devoto/) > [There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/there-is-only-one-difference-between-a-madman-and-me-the-madman/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Messy love is better than none, I guess. I am no authority on sane living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/messy-love-is-better-than-none-i-guess-i-am-no-authority-on-sane/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/the-doors-to-the-world-of-the-wild-self-are-few-but-precious-if-you/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [The rewards for being sane may not be very many, but knowing what's funny is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/the-rewards-for-being-sane-may-not-be-very-many-but-knowing-what-s/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [I couldn't even think about wanting to be something else; I wouldn't let myself visualize another life. But I wrote because I couldn't stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-be-something-else-i-wouldn-t/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [No sane person wants hell to exist. No sane person wants evil to exist. But hell is just evil eternalized. If there is evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/no-sane-person-wants-hell-to-exist-no-sane-person-wants-evil-to-exist/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [No battle was ever won by wholly sane men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-viehl/no-battle-was-ever-won-by-wholly-sane-men/) [Lynn Viehl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-viehl/) Browse all 883 Sane quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lykke Li" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be-great-all-the-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Sane" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be-great-all-the-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/lykke-li-3123_sane_it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be_2815668.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not a very sane thing to try to be great all the time.” — Lykke Li", "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": "Lykke Li", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not a very sane thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be-great-all-the-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-a-very-sane-thing-to-try-to-be-great-all-the-time/#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 } } ] } ```