--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That which prematurely arrives at…" description: "\"That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.\" — Quintilian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg" --- # That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes. ![“That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.” quote by Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg) > “That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.” [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early perfection leads to fragility; true growth requires gradual development. **In simple terms:** Rushing to perfection causes early failure. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience and steady growth. Themes perfection growth fragility Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - skill learning - career development - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy education Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance excellence and patience? - What steps ensure sustainable progress? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stifle innovation and learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfection Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-soon-3542126/) [Perishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perishes-600884/) [Prematurely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prematurely/) [Prematurely Arrives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prematurely-arrives-3542127/) [Soon Perishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soon-perishes-2729259/) ## Related quotes > [Power gives no purchase to the hand, it will not hold, soon perishes, and greatness goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/power-gives-no-purchase-to-the-hand-it-will-not-hold-soon-perishes/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [When I was born, I was born very prematurely so I was very tiny and small. And so, my mom just nicknamed me Pixie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pixie-lott/when-i-was-born-i-was-born-very-prematurely-so-i-was-very-tiny-and/) [Pixie Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pixie-lott/) > [In my book, 'The Big Three in Economics,' I found that the press has frequently and prematurely written the obituary of Adam Smith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/in-my-book-the-big-three-in-economics-i-found-that-the-press-has/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [No one will go to hell simply because all they needed was a little more time and they died prematurely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-moreland/no-one-will-go-to-hell-simply-because-all-they-needed-was-a-little/) [J.P. Moreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-moreland/) > [My career was prematurely launched. I didn't have a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mija/my-career-was-prematurely-launched-i-didn-t-have-a-plan/) [Mija](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mija/) > [Perhaps, if prematurely we dismiss ourselves from this world, all may even have to be suffered through again - the premature birth may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/perhaps-if-prematurely-we-dismiss-ourselves-from-this-world-all-may/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [I think my demise has been prematurely reported. That's what I think. I think I'm going take this and make medical history, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sager/i-think-my-demise-has-been-prematurely-reported-that-s-what-i-think-i/) [Craig Sager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sager/) > [I feel prematurely old. I'm actually having this major belated quarter-life crisis. I'm turning 30 in a couple of weeks. I've been thinking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-feel-prematurely-old-i-m-actually-having-this-major-belated-quarter/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [The Chinese have figured out that they have a giant environmental problem. Folks in Beijing, some days, literally can't breathe. Over a million Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-chinese-have-figured-out-that-they-have-a-giant-environmental/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“The most interesting conversations always end prematurely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-most-interesting-conversations-always-end-prematurely/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [I have a spasm of envy for the person that was killed by a falling bookcase, as long as it doesn't happen prematurely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-have-a-spasm-of-envy-for-the-person-that-was-killed-by-a-falling/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Whoever prematurely begins a work that is above his strength receives nothing, but only brings harm upon himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-of-nineveh/whoever-prematurely-begins-a-work-that-is-above-his-strength-receives/) [Isaac of Nineveh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-of-nineveh/) > [After a romantic date, she prematurely refers to HIM as](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roge/after-a-romantic-date-she-prematurely-refers-to-him-as/) [Roge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roge/) > [An autobiography is only 'a sort of life' - it may contain less errors of fact than a biography, but it is of necessity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/an-autobiography-is-only-a-sort-of-life-it-may-contain-less-errors-of/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [I think 'Teenage Wasteland' was one of those cult hits like 'My So-Called Life', something that came along and got a lot of viewers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-think-teenage-wasteland-was-one-of-those-cult-hits-like-my-so/) [Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/) ## More by Quintilian > [“In writing are the roots, in writing are the foundations of eloquence; by writing resources are stored up, as it were, in a sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/in-writing-are-the-roots-in-writing-are-the-foundations-of-eloquence/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/virtue-though-she-gets-her-beginning-from-nature-yet-receives-her/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/vain-hopes-are-like-certain-dreams-of-those-who-wake/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/though-ambition-may-be-a-fault-in-itself-it-is-often-the-mother-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [It is easier to do many things than to do one thing continuously for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/it-is-easier-to-do-many-things-than-to-do-one-thing-continuously-for/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/we-excuse-our-sloth-under-the-pretext-of-difficulty/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [One thing, however, I must premise, that without the assistance of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no efficacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/one-thing-however-i-must-premise-that-without-the-assistance-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Medicine for the dead is too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/medicine-for-the-dead-is-too-late/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/our-minds-are-like-our-stomaches-they-are-whetted-by-the-change-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/a-laugh-costs-too-much-when-bought-at-the-expense-of-virtue/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/the-soul-languishing-in-obscurity-contracts-a-kind-of-rust-or/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [He who speaks evil only differs from his who does evil in that he lacks opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/he-who-speaks-evil-only-differs-from-his-who-does-evil-in-that-he/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/that-which-offends-the-ear-will-not-easily-gain-admission-to-the-mind/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/in-almost-everything-experience-is-more-valuable-than-precept/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Though ambition itself be a vice, yet it is often times the cause of virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/though-ambition-itself-be-a-vice-yet-it-is-often-times-the-cause-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) [Explore all 92 Quintilian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) ## More Perfection quotes > [I'm tired of looking for the perfect guy. From now on.. he can look for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-tired-of-looking-for-the-perfect-guy-from-now-on-he-can-look-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [You know why you're not perfect? You do everything perfectly and you think you are perfect, but the mere fact that you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-why-you-re-not-perfect-you-do-everything-perfectly-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/asanas-bring-perfection-in-body-beauty-in-form-grace-strength/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Sorrow and happiness are the heresies of virtue; joy and anger lead astray from TAO; love and hate cause loss of virtue. The heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/sorrow-and-happiness-are-the-heresies-of-virtue-joy-and-anger-lead/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“I watch the perfectly imperfect people several stories below, living their perfectly imperfect lives, and I think about how many decades will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-watch-the-perfectly-imperfect-people-several-stories-below-living/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [To make one good action succeed another, is the perfection of goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/to-make-one-good-action-succeed-another-is-the-perfection-of-goodness/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [“I’ve been the queen of symmetry and everything had to be in identical balance, no matter how you looked at it. But I’ve realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taryn-leigh/i-ve-been-the-queen-of-symmetry-and-everything-had-to-be-in-identical/) [Taryn Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taryn-leigh/) > [I accept you can't achieve perfection all the time, but you can achieve perfection of intent, maybe. I don't think you can go into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-accept-you-can-t-achieve-perfection-all-the-time-but-you-can/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [“perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/perfection-is-finally-attained-not-when-there-is-no-longer-anything/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) [Browse all 4,253 Perfection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quintilian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfection-soon-perishes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Perfection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfection-soon-perishes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/quintilian-7306_perfection_that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfec_1192275.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes.” — Quintilian", "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": "Quintilian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That which prematurely arrives at perfection...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfection-soon-perishes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/that-which-prematurely-arrives-at-perfection-soon-perishes/#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 } } ] } ```