---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is perfect...We're really more…"
description: "\"Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested in what we're saying than how we're saying it.\" — Neil Young"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg"
---

#  Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested in what…

![“Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested in what we're saying than how we're saying it.” quote by Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg)

> “Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested in what we're saying than how we're saying it.”

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The content of communication outweighs its style; meaning matters more than delivery.

**In simple terms:** What you say is more important than how you say it.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize clear ideas over flashy phrasing.

Themes

communication clarity substance

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- media interviews

Key Concepts

rhetoric message framing

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you value substance over style?
- How does delivery shape perception?

A Different Perspective

Style can affect reception even if content is strong.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Interested Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-saying-4820383/) [Nothing is perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing-is-perfect/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Really Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-interested/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Saying Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-saying-703699/)

## Related quotes

> [Whether I'm sat next to a pop star or in the middle of a stand-up show, I'm interested in saying the thing that isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/whether-i-m-sat-next-to-a-pop-star-or-in-the-middle-of-a-stand-up/)

[Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/)

> [“I like to hear the marching of typewriter keys, the shudder of the space bar, the metallic ding at the end of a line.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-like-to-hear-the-marching-of-typewriter-keys-the-shudder-of-the/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [I do one take; I never overdubbed twice. I know there's stuff that isn't perfect, but it doesn't matter: Nothing is perfect, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-do-one-take-i-never-overdubbed-twice-i-know-there-s-stuff-that-isn/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/nothing-is-perfect-in-god-s-perfect-plan/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [I always find myself caught between saying too much and not saying enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-always-find-myself-caught-between-saying-too-much-and-not-saying/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [What I think I've learned is that you're never going to get it all right, and you can't obsess about having a fact wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/what-i-think-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-re-never-going-to-get-it-all/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [You can use your idealism to further your aims, if you realize that nothing is Nirvana, nothing is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-can-use-your-idealism-to-further-your-aims-if-you-realize-that/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [When you put a halo on concepts - gender roles, religion, nationality or pride - or you put a halo on any topic -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/when-you-put-a-halo-on-concepts-gender-roles-religion-nationality-or/)

[Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/)

> [Ask anyone who has been in a love relationship for a while: nothing is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/ask-anyone-who-has-been-in-a-love-relationship-for-a-while-nothing-is/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [Nothing is perfect. Therefore, being perfect is being nothing… and that's a great way to lose weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-benzine/nothing-is-perfect-therefore-being-perfect-is-being-nothing-and-that/)

[Craig Benzine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-benzine/)

> [Nothing is perfect on the human stage...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/nothing-is-perfect-on-the-human-stage/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [Life isn't perfect and that's the kind of world where Jesus showed up. He wasn't born in a palace on a perfect day. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-isn-t-perfect-and-that-s-the-kind-of-world-where-jesus-showed-up/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [I am working for a better United Nations. Nothing is perfect. You should never rely on only one source, but rather rely on those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-am-working-for-a-better-united-nations-nothing-is-perfect-you/)

[Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/)

> [I know where the mistakes are. Nothing is perfect and I understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-know-where-the-mistakes-are-nothing-is-perfect-and-i-understand-that/)

[Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/)

> [It is failure that guides evolution; perfection provides no incentive for improvement, and nothing is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/it-is-failure-that-guides-evolution-perfection-provides-no-incentive/)

[Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/)

## More by Neil Young

> [A lot of people that buy vinyl today don’t realise that they’re listening to CD masters on vinyl and that’s because the record companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/a-lot-of-people-that-buy-vinyl-today-don-t-realise-that-they-re/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Let's roll for justice, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/let-s-roll-for-justice-let-s-roll-for-truth-let-s-not-let-our/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them. And I try to forgive them anyway I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/don-t-feel-like-satan-but-i-am-to-them-and-i-try-to-forgive-them/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [I never knew a man could tell so many lies, he had a different story for every set of eyes. How can he remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-never-knew-a-man-could-tell-so-many-lies-he-had-a-different-story/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/it-s-the-woman-in-you-that-makes-you-want-to-play-this-game/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Keep it moving. Don't hoard. Money's no good, get rid of it. Turn it into people doing things. Turn it into jobs. Turn it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/keep-it-moving-don-t-hoard-money-s-no-good-get-rid-of-it-turn-it-into/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [My dad passed away...and suddenly I found myself at the top of the tree and looking at the sky instead of at my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/my-dad-passed-away-and-suddenly-i-found-myself-at-the-top-of-the-tree/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [The Arabic states have to be integrated into the Iraqi reconstruction. We need the help of the Arabic community, which understands its culture. Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/the-arabic-states-have-to-be-integrated-into-the-iraqi-reconstruction/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Said the condor to the preying mantis, we're gonna lose this place just like we lost Atlantis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/said-the-condor-to-the-preying-mantis-we-re-gonna-lose-this-place/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [With Crazy Horse, it's all one big, growing, smoldering sound, and I'm part of it. It's like gliding, or some sort of natural surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/with-crazy-horse-it-s-all-one-big-growing-smoldering-sound-and-i-m/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [It doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/it-doesn-t-mean-that-much-to-me-to-mean-that-much-to-you/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Cocaine eyes won't hide your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/cocaine-eyes-won-t-hide-your-face/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Now I'm livin' out here on the beach, but those seagulls are still out of reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/now-i-m-livin-out-here-on-the-beach-but-those-seagulls-are-still-out/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [I've always been better moving than I am standing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-ve-always-been-better-moving-than-i-am-standing-still/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [Don't think. The worst songs I've ever written happen when I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/don-t-think-the-worst-songs-i-ve-ever-written-happen-when-i-think/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

[Explore all 317 Neil Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

## More Nothing is perfect quotes

> [What I think I've learned is that you're never going to get it all right, and you can't obsess about having a fact wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/what-i-think-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-re-never-going-to-get-it-all/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [When you put a halo on concepts - gender roles, religion, nationality or pride - or you put a halo on any topic -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/when-you-put-a-halo-on-concepts-gender-roles-religion-nationality-or/)

[Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/)

> [You can use your idealism to further your aims, if you realize that nothing is Nirvana, nothing is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-can-use-your-idealism-to-further-your-aims-if-you-realize-that/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [Life isn't perfect and that's the kind of world where Jesus showed up. He wasn't born in a palace on a perfect day. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-isn-t-perfect-and-that-s-the-kind-of-world-where-jesus-showed-up/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [Nothing is perfect on the human stage...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/nothing-is-perfect-on-the-human-stage/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [Nothing is perfect. Therefore, being perfect is being nothing… and that's a great way to lose weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-benzine/nothing-is-perfect-therefore-being-perfect-is-being-nothing-and-that/)

[Craig Benzine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-benzine/)

> [Ask anyone who has been in a love relationship for a while: nothing is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/ask-anyone-who-has-been-in-a-love-relationship-for-a-while-nothing-is/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [It is failure that guides evolution; perfection provides no incentive for improvement, and nothing is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/it-is-failure-that-guides-evolution-perfection-provides-no-incentive/)

[Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/)

> [I am working for a better United Nations. Nothing is perfect. You should never rely on only one source, but rather rely on those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-am-working-for-a-better-united-nations-nothing-is-perfect-you/)

[Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/)

> [I know where the mistakes are. Nothing is perfect and I understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-know-where-the-mistakes-are-nothing-is-perfect-and-i-understand-that/)

[Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/)

> [Mr. Freeman: You are getting better at this, but it's not good enough. This looks like a tree,but it is an average, ordinary, everyday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/mr-freeman-you-are-getting-better-at-this-but-it-s-not-good-enough/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

> [Nothing is perfect in God's perfect plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/nothing-is-perfect-in-god-s-perfect-plan/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [We may remark in passing that to be blind and beloved may, in this world where nothing is perfect, be among the most strangely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/we-may-remark-in-passing-that-to-be-blind-and-beloved-may-in-this-2/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [It is all right to make mistakes; nothing is perfect because with perfection, we would not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/it-is-all-right-to-make-mistakes-nothing-is-perfect-because-with/)

[Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/)

> [I've seen plenty of films where the projector broke. The problems that we have in the digital age are exactly the same as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-ve-seen-plenty-of-films-where-the-projector-broke-the-problems-that/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

[Browse all 20 Nothing is perfect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing-is-perfect/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested in what we're saying than how we're saying it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neil Young"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-interested-in-what-we-re-saying/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Nothing is perfect"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-interested-in-what-we-re-saying/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/neil-young-969_nothing-is-perfect_nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-int_588225.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested in what we're saying than how we're saying it.” — Neil Young",
                "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": "Neil Young",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Nothing is perfect...We're really more interested...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-interested-in-what-we-re-saying/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/nothing-is-perfect-we-re-really-more-interested-in-what-we-re-saying/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
