Done Quote by Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sevigne
“We are never satisfied with having done well; and in endeavoring to do better, we do much worse.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Letters of Madame de Sévigné, 1660s
Striving for perfection often leads to poorer outcomes than being content with good work.
In simple terms: Trying harder can make things worse.
Key Takeaway
Balance ambition with realistic expectations.
Themes
perfectionism
self‑criticism
productivity
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career projects
- creative work
- personal goals
- team collaborations
Key Concepts
psychology
human nature
performance pressure
Questions to Reflect On
- Are you chasing excellence at the cost of quality?
- How can you recognize when good enough is sufficient?
A Different Perspective
Excessive self‑pressure can cause burnout and errors.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
