--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that separates any one of…" description: "\"“The only thing that separates any one of us from excellence is fear and the opposite of fear is faith. I am careful not to confuse excellence with per..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/michael-j-fox-1653_business_the-only-thing-that-separates-any-one-of_1309380.jpg" --- # The only thing that separates any one of us from… ![“The only thing that separates any one of us from excellence is fear and the opposite of fear is faith. I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God’s business.” quote by Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/michael-j-fox-1653_business_the-only-thing-that-separates-any-one-of_1309380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/michael-j-fox-1653_business_the-only-thing-that-separates-any-one-of_1309380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/michael-j-fox-1653_business_the-only-thing-that-separates-any-one-of_1309380.jpg) > ““The only thing that separates any one of us from excellence is fear and the opposite of fear is faith. I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God’s business.”” [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence is attainable through faith, not fear; perfection is unattainable and divine. **In simple terms:** Faith over fear leads to excellence, not perfection. Key Takeaway Choose faith, aim for excellence. Themes courage faith excellence perfection spirituality Mood determined inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - Career goals - personal development - creative projects - spiritual practice Key Concepts Self‑actualization mindset divine limits Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back from excellence? - How can faith replace fear in daily decisions? A Different Perspective Perfection may distract from realistic progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Perfectionism is not as much the desire for excellence, as it is the fear of failure couched in procrastination .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/perfectionism-is-not-as-much-the-desire-for-excellence-as-it-is-the/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-am-careful-not-to-confuse-excellence-with-perfection-excellence-i/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [We have become this very fear-based culture, especially post-9/11. Fear is the opposite of love, in my opinion. I think there would be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-have-become-this-very-fear-based-culture-especially-post-9-11-fear/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Love. The opposite of fear is love, and every minute of every day, we choose between the two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-gooch-hummer/love-the-opposite-of-fear-is-love-and-every-minute-of-every-day-we/) [Jennifer Gooch Hummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-gooch-hummer/) > [The best way to battle fear is with courage. You have to look at the opposite of fear: Fear is scared of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/the-best-way-to-battle-fear-is-with-courage-you-have-to-look-at-the/) [Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/) > [The opposite of fear is love - love of the challenge, love of the work, the pure joyous passion to take a shot at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-opposite-of-fear-is-love-love-of-the-challenge-love-of-the-work/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“The opposite of fear is not bravery, courage, or another Merriam-Webster antonym. The opposite of fear is love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-chellsen/the-opposite-of-fear-is-not-bravery-courage-or-another-merriam/) [Nick Chellsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-chellsen/) > [“Love is the opposite of fear. It is free and transcends all space and time. Love is infinite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/love-is-the-opposite-of-fear-it-is-free-and-transcends-all-space-and/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [The opposite of fear," Dienekes said, "is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-opposite-of-fear-dienekes-said-is-love/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“When we pay attention to sensations in our bodies, we can feel that love is the energetic opposite of fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-pay-attention-to-sensations-in-our-bodies-we-can-feel-that/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“Love is the opposite of fear and it lights the flames of a million hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/love-is-the-opposite-of-fear-and-it-lights-the-flames-of-a-million/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [“I have no fear of the dead. 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When we are not in love, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/love-and-fear-are-the-two-opposite-ends-of-the-continuum-as-far-as-i/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Usually the opposite of what we fear is our greatest fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/usually-the-opposite-of-what-we-fear-is-our-greatest-fear/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) ## More by Michael J. Fox > [If you allow for the possibilities of something better, you move toward it instinctively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/if-you-allow-for-the-possibilities-of-something-better-you-move/) [Michael J. 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