--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perfection is immutable. But for things…" description: "\"Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect change is the way to perfect them. It gets the name of wilfulness when it will not admit of a lawful ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/owen-feltham-9361_absolutes_perfection-is-immutable-but-for-things-i_1854424.jpg" --- # Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect change… ![“Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect change is the way to perfect them. It gets the name of wilfulness when it will not admit of a lawful change to the better. Therefore constancy without knowledge cannot be always good. In things ill it is not virtue, but an absolute vice.” quote by Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/owen-feltham-9361_absolutes_perfection-is-immutable-but-for-things-i_1854424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/owen-feltham-9361_absolutes_perfection-is-immutable-but-for-things-i_1854424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/owen-feltham-9361_absolutes_perfection-is-immutable-but-for-things-i_1854424.jpg) > “Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect change is the way to perfect them. It gets the name of wilfulness when it will not admit of a lawful change to the better. Therefore constancy without knowledge cannot be always good. In things ill it is not virtue, but an absolute vice.” [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unchanging constancy without knowledge leads to vice; improvement requires adaptable change. **In simple terms:** Change improves when guided by knowledge. Key Takeaway Adapt and learn continuously. Themes change knowledge virtue Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - self‑improvement - organizational development - education Key Concepts philosophy ethics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When does constancy become harmful? - How can knowledge guide change? A Different Perspective Rigid adherence can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Constancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constancy/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Immutable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immutable/) [Immutable Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immutable-things-2455662/) [Imperfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfect/) [Imperfect Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfect-change-2455661/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfection Immutable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-immutable-2455660/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect, change is the way to perfect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/perfection-is-immutable-but-for-things-imperfect-change-is-the-way-to/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [“You are not the mind itself. For You are the Lord God of the mind. All these things are liable to change, but You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-of-hippo/you-are-not-the-mind-itself-for-you-are-the-lord-god-of-the-mind-all/) [St. Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-augustine-of-hippo/) > [“He is immutable. He has never changed and can never change in any smallest measure. To change He would need to go from better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/he-is-immutable-he-has-never-changed-and-can-never-change-in-any/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [I think it is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises, but only performance is reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-is-an-immutable-law-in-business-that-words-are-words/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being gay is immutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/being-gay-is-immutable/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises-but only performance is reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-geneen/it-is-an-immutable-law-in-business-that-words-are-words-explanations/) [Harold S. Geneen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-geneen/) > [The laws of physics that we regard as 'sacred,' as immutable, are anything but.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-archibald-wheeler/the-laws-of-physics-that-we-regard-as-sacred-as-immutable-are/) [John Archibald Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-archibald-wheeler/) > [God is immutable—He never changes! His ministry to you is complete, on target, and constant!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/god-is-immutable-he-never-changes-his-ministry-to-you-is-complete-on/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [Being gay is immutable. Maybe someday we'll figure out more of the science and it will be changeable, but we have no leads so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/being-gay-is-immutable-maybe-someday-we-ll-figure-out-more-of-the/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“Words are the only immutable medium we have, which is why they are the vehicle of choice for extremely important concepts like the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-are-the-only-immutable-medium-we-have-which-is-why-they-are-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For our vanity is such that we hold our own characters immutable, and we are slow to acknowledge that they have changed, even for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/for-our-vanity-is-such-that-we-hold-our-own-characters-immutable-and/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Truth is the most unbending and uncompliable, the most necessary, firm, immutable, and adamantine thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-cudworth/truth-is-the-most-unbending-and-uncompliable-the-most-necessary-firm/) [Ralph Cudworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-cudworth/) > [“What is cool changes; that there is such a thing as cool is immutable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/what-is-cool-changes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as-cool-is-immutable/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [The economy is not immutable; it's not about natural laws. It's about rules, and we make the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/the-economy-is-not-immutable-it-s-not-about-natural-laws-it-s-about/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [Nature . . . is inexorable and immutable; she never transgresses the laws imposed upon her, nor cares a whit whether her abstruse reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/nature-is-inexorable-and-immutable-she-never-transgresses-the-laws/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) ## More by Owen Feltham > [The boundary of man is moderation. When once we pass that pale our guardian angel quits his charge of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/the-boundary-of-man-is-moderation-when-once-we-pass-that-pale-our/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Of all trees, I observe God hath chosen the vine, a low plant that creeps upon the helpful wall; of all beasts, the soft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/of-all-trees-i-observe-god-hath-chosen-the-vine-a-low-plant-that/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [To go to law is for two persons to kindle a fire, at their own cost, to warm others and singe themselves to cinders;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/to-go-to-law-is-for-two-persons-to-kindle-a-fire-at-their-own-cost-to/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Virtue is the truest liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/virtue-is-the-truest-liberty/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Fear, if it be not immoderate, puts a guard about us that does watch and defend us; but credulity keeps us naked, and lays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/fear-if-it-be-not-immoderate-puts-a-guard-about-us-that-does-watch/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/where-there-is-plenty-charity-is-a-duty-not-a-courtesy/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Meditation is the soul's perspective glass, whereby, in her long remove, she discerneth God, as if He were nearer at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/meditation-is-the-soul-s-perspective-glass-whereby-in-her-long-remove/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Truth and fidelity are the pillars of the temple of the world; when these are broken, the fabric falls, and crushes all to pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/truth-and-fidelity-are-the-pillars-of-the-temple-of-the-world-when/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [There is no one subsists by himself alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/there-is-no-one-subsists-by-himself-alone/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Promises may get friends, but it is performance that must nurse and keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/promises-may-get-friends-but-it-is-performance-that-must-nurse-and/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [It is rare to see a rich man religious; for religion preaches restraint, and riches prompt to unlicensed freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/it-is-rare-to-see-a-rich-man-religious-for-religion-preaches/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Pleasures can undo a man at any time, if yielded to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/pleasures-can-undo-a-man-at-any-time-if-yielded-to/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Human life has not a surer friend, nor oftentimes a greater enemy, than hope. 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