--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At its root, perfectionism isn’t really…" description: "\"“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg" --- # At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love… ![“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.” quote by Michael Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg) > ““At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.”” Michael Law ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism stems from fear—of error, judgment, failure, or even success—rather than a genuine love of precision. **In simple terms:** Fear, the root of perfectionism. Key Takeaway Challenge fear to embrace imperfect progress. Themes perfectionism fear self‑criticism Mood cautionary motivational Type analysis self‑reflection When to use this quote - work projects - academic work - artistic creation - personal goals Key Concepts psychology performance anxiety growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What fear fuels your need for perfection? - How can you reframe mistakes as learning? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can paralyze action and stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-love/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) [Fear of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-success/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) ## Related quotes > [“Remember that the antidote to perfectionism isn’t being good—it’s being loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/remember-that-the-antidote-to-perfectionism-isn-t-being-good-it-s/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [I have a tendency to sabotage relationships; I have a tendency to sabotage everything. Fear of success, fear of failure, fear of being afraid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buble/i-have-a-tendency-to-sabotage-relationships-i-have-a-tendency-to/) [Michael Buble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buble/) > [Many psychotherapists believe laziness is usually just the symptom. That the real problem is fear of failure, fear of success, or fear of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-nemko/many-psychotherapists-believe-laziness-is-usually-just-the-symptom/) [Marty Nemko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-nemko/) > [Fear of Failure becomes Fear of Success for those who Never Try Anything New.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/fear-of-failure-becomes-fear-of-success-for-those-who-never-try/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Fear comes in two packages fear of failure, and sometimes, fear of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kite/fear-comes-in-two-packages-fear-of-failure-and-sometimes-fear-of/) [Tom Kite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kite/) > [“When we really get serious about our insecurities, we usually find that three specific fears emerge: the fear of failure, the fear of success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/when-we-really-get-serious-about-our-insecurities-we-usually-find/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. Never leave that till tomorrow, he said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-grey/a-couple-of-hundred-years-ago-benjamin-franklin-shared-with-the-world/) [Meredith Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-grey/) > [“In the past, my brain could only compute perfection or failure—nothing in between. So words like competent, acceptable, satisfactory, and good enough fell into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/in-the-past-my-brain-could-only-compute-perfection-or-failure-nothing/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [8. THINGS TO GIVE UP : -Doubting yourself -Negative thinking -Fear of failure -Criticizing Yourself and others -Negative self talk -Procrastination -Fear of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/8-things-to-give-up-doubting-yourself-negative-thinking-fear-of/) Unkown > [Knowing what must be done does away with fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/knowing-what-must-be-done-does-away-with-fear/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [Your playing small doesn't serve the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/your-playing-small-doesn-t-serve-the-world/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-nothing-enlightened-about-shrinking-so-that-other-people/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [There is no impossibility to him who stands prepared to conquer every hazard. The fearful are the failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-josepha-hale/there-is-no-impossibility-to-him-who-stands-prepared-to-conquer-every/) [Sarah Josepha Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-josepha-hale/) > [As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-we-are-liberated-from-our-own-fear-our-presence-automatically/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [One who fears failure limits his activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/one-who-fears-failure-limits-his-activities/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) ## More by Michael Law > [“Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’ve crossed the line from conscientious to compulsive. When you’re in the thick of an assignment, it’s easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/sometimes-it-s-hard-to-know-when-you-ve-crossed-the-line-from/) Michael Law > [“When insecurity prevents you from working productively, stop and take some time to reestablish trust in yourself. You can do this by reminding yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/when-insecurity-prevents-you-from-working-productively-stop-and-take/) Michael Law > [“Face it: as much as you’d like to be, you’re not perfect. Mistakes will be made in both your freelance career and life. Instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/face-it-as-much-as-you-d-like-to-be-you-re-not-perfect-mistakes-will/) Michael Law Explore all 4 Michael Law quotes ## More Deep love quotes > [Words will never be enough to describe how much I love you and what you mean to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/words-will-never-be-enough-to-describe-how-much-i-love-you-and-what/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Each day my love grows deeper, deeper than I never thought before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-day-my-love-grows-deeper-deeper-than-i-never-thought-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It seems like forever until you come home. Sleeping makes the time pass more quickly. I have your picture on my nightstand so your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-makula/it-seems-like-forever-until-you-come-home-sleeping-makes-the-time/) S Makula > [Love is something that cannot be defined in words. Love can only be felt deep down in our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/love-is-something-that-cannot-be-defined-in-words-love-can-only-be/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [True love or the lack thereof, sometimes works in mysterious ways. One minute your world is spinning in one direction, you meet someone and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-nathaniel-butler/true-love-or-the-lack-thereof-sometimes-works-in-mysterious-ways-one/) [Eugene Nathaniel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-nathaniel-butler/) > [We are never more than a belief away from our greatest love, deepest healing, and most profound miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-braden/we-are-never-more-than-a-belief-away-from-our-greatest-love-deepest/) [Gregg Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-braden/) > [Life is one fool thing after another whereas love is two fool things after each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/life-is-one-fool-thing-after-another-whereas-love-is-two-fool-things/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Have you ever been so in love with someone, that you fall in love with the little things about them? The way they look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iddk/have-you-ever-been-so-in-love-with-someone-that-you-fall-in-love-with/) Iddk > [“But—I’m leaving.” Not without me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/but-i-m-leaving-not-without-me/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I will never get tired of loving you. I admire the way you make me fall in love with you more each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-never-get-tired-of-loving-you-i-admire-the-way-you-make-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“i want to stay curled and cosied and chocolated…forever in my mother’s arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/i-want-to-stay-curled-and-cosied-and-chocolated-forever-in-my-mother/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) > [You are a constant reminder of who I am and where I come from. A clear reflection of my personality and soul. Your presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tshepo-koos-maluleke/you-are-a-constant-reminder-of-who-i-am-and-where-i-come-from-a-clear/) [Tshepo Koos Maluleke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tshepo-koos-maluleke/) > [John wrote with a very deep love for the human race and a concern for its future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/john-wrote-with-a-very-deep-love-for-the-human-race-and-a-concern-for/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [When we stop fighting with ourselves, we aren't creating anymore conflict in our mind. Then our mind can for the first time relax and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-we-stop-fighting-with-ourselves-we-aren-t-creating-anymore/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Avant-garde means never having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/avant-garde-means-never-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) [Browse all 716 Deep love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Law" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-about-a-deep-love-of-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deep love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-about-a-deep-love-of-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/michael-law-73578_deep-love_at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-a_2400568.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of…” — Michael Law", "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": "Michael Law", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-law/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-about-a-deep-love-of-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-law/at-its-root-perfectionism-isn-t-really-about-a-deep-love-of-being/#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 } } ] } ```