--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have these impossibly high standards…" description: "\"We have these impossibly high standards and we'll probably never live up to our perfect fantasies of our future selves. But I feel like that's okay.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/marina-keegan-18769_fantasy_we-have-these-impossibly-high-standards_2490027.jpg" --- # We have these impossibly high standards and we'll probably… ![“We have these impossibly high standards and we'll probably never live up to our perfect fantasies of our future selves. But I feel like that's okay.” quote by Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/marina-keegan-18769_fantasy_we-have-these-impossibly-high-standards_2490027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/marina-keegan-18769_fantasy_we-have-these-impossibly-high-standards_2490027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1f/marina-keegan-18769_fantasy_we-have-these-impossibly-high-standards_2490027.jpg) > “We have these impossibly high standards and we'll probably never live up to our perfect fantasies of our future selves. But I feel like that's okay.” [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) ## 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 acknowledges that we set unrealistically high expectations for ourselves, but accepts that falling short is acceptable. **In simple terms:** High standards are often unattainable, and that's okay. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and keep moving forward. Themes self‑expectations acceptance growth mental health Mood hopeful realistic Type motivational advice When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - goal setting - well‑being Key Concepts perfectionism self‑compassion realism Questions to Reflect On - What standards are truly beneficial? - How can you celebrate progress despite imperfections? A Different Perspective Unrealistic standards can cause chronic stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Future self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-self/) [High standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-standards/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [We might neglect our future selves because of some failure of belief or imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-parfit/we-might-neglect-our-future-selves-because-of-some-failure-of-belief/) [Derek Parfit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-parfit/) > [We treat our future selves as though they were our children, spending most of the hours of most of our days constructing tomorrows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/we-treat-our-future-selves-as-though-they-were-our-children-spending-2/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [We're all just memories of our future selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/we-re-all-just-memories-of-our-future-selves/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [“I have offered many of my selves to you to feel a single you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-pokhrel/i-have-offered-many-of-my-selves-to-you-to-feel-a-single-you/) [Suman Pokhrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-pokhrel/) > [If people are hiding their sexuality, they don't really get their full selves, so you can sometimes feel like you're presenting sort of like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/if-people-are-hiding-their-sexuality-they-don-t-really-get-their-full/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [... we've allowed a youth-centered culture to leave us so estranged from our future selves that, when asked about the years beyondfifty, sixty, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/we-ve-allowed-a-youth-centered-culture-to-leave-us-so-estranged-from/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [If you're a Christian you're just a shadow of your future self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-a-christian-you-re-just-a-shadow-of-your-future-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Documentation is a love letter that you write to your future self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-conway/documentation-is-a-love-letter-that-you-write-to-your-future-self/) Damian Conway > [“Oh, how I wish I had already regenerated to become the tall one with the dicky bow, thought the Doctor, who occasionally had visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/oh-how-i-wish-i-had-already-regenerated-to-become-the-tall-one-with/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“We treat our future selves as though they were our children, spending most of the hours of most of our days constructing tomorrows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/we-treat-our-future-selves-as-though-they-were-our-children-spending/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [I want to tell young girls to try thinking of their future selves as their role models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jisoo/i-want-to-tell-young-girls-to-try-thinking-of-their-future-selves-as/) [Jisoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jisoo/) > [“We ought not to do to our future selves what it would be wrong to do to other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-parfit/we-ought-not-to-do-to-our-future-selves-what-it-would-be-wrong-to-do/) [Derek Parfit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-parfit/) > [“Our daily words and actions lead to decisions, our decisions create habits, and our habits create our future selves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-o-leary/our-daily-words-and-actions-lead-to-decisions-our-decisions-create/) [Jeff O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-o-leary/) > [“we take pictures and videos as love letters to our future selves - reminders of who we are, where we've been and what we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malebo-sephodi/we-take-pictures-and-videos-as-love-letters-to-our-future-selves/) [Malebo Sephodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malebo-sephodi/) > [“Life is fluid. We are the ghosts of all the people we might become, peering forward to catch a glimpse of what could be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mcgill/life-is-fluid-we-are-the-ghosts-of-all-the-people-we-might-become/) [Bernie Mcgill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mcgill/) ## More by Marina Keegan > [“Maybe I’m ignorant and idealistic but I just feel like that can’t possibly be true. I feel like we know that. I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/maybe-i-m-ignorant-and-idealistic-but-i-just-feel-like-that-can-t/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [“I'm scared of losing this web we're in. This elusive, indefinable, opposite of loneliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/i-m-scared-of-losing-this-web-we-re-in-this-elusive-indefinable/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [I will live for love and the rest will take care of itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/i-will-live-for-love-and-the-rest-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [“I saw everything in the world build up and then everything in the world fall down again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/i-saw-everything-in-the-world-build-up-and-then-everything-in-the/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [I want enough time to be in love with everything . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/i-want-enough-time-to-be-in-love-with-everything/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [“We're so young. We can't, we MUST not loose this sense of possibility because in the end, it's all we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/we-re-so-young-we-can-t-we-must-not-loose-this-sense-of-possibility/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [“I read somewhere that radio waves just keep traveling outward, flying into the universe with eternal vibrations. Sometime before I die I think I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/i-read-somewhere-that-radio-waves-just-keep-traveling-outward-flying/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [Do you wanna leave soon? No, I want enough time to be in love with everything... And I cry because everything is so beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/do-you-wanna-leave-soon-no-i-want-enough-time-to-be-in-love-with/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [The middle of the universe is tonight, is here, And everything behind is a sunk cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/the-middle-of-the-universe-is-tonight-is-here-and-everything-behind/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [Let's make something happen to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/let-s-make-something-happen-to-this-world/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [“Sometimes I think about what it would be like if there was actual peace. The whole planet would be super sustainable: windmills everywhere, solar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/sometimes-i-think-about-what-it-would-be-like-if-there-was-actual/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [What we have to remember is that we can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/what-we-have-to-remember-is-that-we-can-still-do-anything-we-can/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [But it became clear very quickly that I'd underestimated how much I liked him. Not him, perhaps, but the fact that I had someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/but-it-became-clear-very-quickly-that-i-d-underestimated-how-much-i/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [So what I'm trying to say is you should text me back. Because there's a precedent. Because there's an urgency. Because there's a bedtime.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/so-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-you-should-text-me-back-because-there-s/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [What an honor. What a responsibility. What a gift we have been given to be born in an atmosphere with oxygen and carbon dioxide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/what-an-honor-what-a-responsibility-what-a-gift-we-have-been-given-to/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) [Explore all 34 Marina Keegan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) ## More Fantasy quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/) [Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) [Browse all 5,469 Fantasy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have these impossibly high standards and we'll probably never live up to our perfect fantasies of our future selves. 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