--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pursuit of perfection always implies…" description: "\"The pursuit of perfection always implies a definite aristocracy, which is as much a goal of effort as a noble philosophy, an august civil polity or a g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png" --- # The pursuit of perfection always implies a definite… ![“The pursuit of perfection always implies a definite aristocracy, which is as much a goal of effort as a noble philosophy, an august civil polity or a great art.” quote by Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png) > “The pursuit of perfection always implies a definite aristocracy, which is as much a goal of effort as a noble philosophy, an august civil polity or a great art.” [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection seeks an elite standard, merging effort with noble ideals and artistic excellence. **In simple terms:** Perfection creates a high‑standard elite. Key Takeaway Pursue excellence while staying inclusive. Themes excellence art philosophy elitism effort Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - design projects - academic research - artistic creation - policy making Key Concepts aesthetics social hierarchy creative discipline Questions to Reflect On - Is exclusivity necessary for true art? - How can we balance elite standards with accessibility? A Different Perspective High standards can exclude and create inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Aristocracy Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy-goal-2497932/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/august/) [Definite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definite/) [Definite Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definite-aristocracy-2497933/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Great art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-art/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-august-2497934/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit of perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-of-perfection/) [Pursuit Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-perfection-267479/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [I'm pretty aware that the pursuit of perfection is, inherently, a flawed concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-wilkinson/i-m-pretty-aware-that-the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-inherently-a/) [Jonny Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-wilkinson/) > [I liked the idea of a self-contained, endless pursuit of perfection. But I have a problem with perfection. I don't think perfection is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-liked-the-idea-of-a-self-contained-endless-pursuit-of-perfection/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light… He who works for sweetness and light united, works to make reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/the-pursuit-of-perfection-then-is-the-pursuit-of-sweetness-and-light-2/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [A line I like to use is, "Every day is training. Every day of life is a pursuit of perfection."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-horton/a-line-i-like-to-use-is-every-day-is-training-every-day-of-life-is-a/) [Jonathan Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-horton/) > [I'm definitely on the pursuit of perfection...I will always be learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-m-definitely-on-the-pursuit-of-perfection-i-will-always-be-learning/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [The relentless pursuit of perfection has been my problem over the years. It's maybe held me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-relentless-pursuit-of-perfection-has-been-my-problem-over-the/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic, and a terrible waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bliss/the-pursuit-of-excellence-is-gratifying-and-healthy-the-pursuit-of/) [Ed Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bliss/) > [The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-pursuit-of-perfection-often-impedes-improvement/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [It’s called the pursuit of perfection. The pursuit is the idea that you’ll never be perfect in gymnastics but you can continue to pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-horton/it-s-called-the-pursuit-of-perfection-the-pursuit-is-the-idea-that/) [Jonathan Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-horton/) > [The pursuit of perfection prevents achievement of the satisfactory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-pursuit-of-perfection-prevents-achievement-of-the-satisfactory/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“Perfection cannot be achieved by men," he told me. "Our highest calling is the pursuit of perfection. My haiku will be finished when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/perfection-cannot-be-achieved-by-men-he-told-me-our-highest-calling/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [Each F1 team has its own personality, but the thing that bonds all teams is the relentless pursuit of perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coulthard/each-f1-team-has-its-own-personality-but-the-thing-that-bonds-all/) [David Coulthard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coulthard/) > [“There is no limit to how good you can get in pursuit of perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-kumar-puli/there-is-no-limit-to-how-good-you-can-get-in-pursuit-of-perfection/) [Sachin Kumar Puli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-kumar-puli/) > [Nothing is perfect except, perhaps a circle. The pursuit of perfection, leads to obsession and sometimes madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blaxland/nothing-is-perfect-except-perhaps-a-circle-the-pursuit-of-perfection/) [Peter Blaxland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blaxland/) ## More by Ralph Adams Cram > [With the opening of the second decade of the twentieth century it seemed that the stage was set for the last act in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/with-the-opening-of-the-second-decade-of-the-twentieth-century-it/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [Towards the end of the eighteenth century the industrial-financial revolution began.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/towards-the-end-of-the-eighteenth-century-the-industrial-financial/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [In revolt against this new and very evil thing came the republicanism of the eighteenth century, inspired and directed in large measure by members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/in-revolt-against-this-new-and-very-evil-thing-came-the-republicanism/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [The Great War was a progressive revelation and disillusionment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/the-great-war-was-a-progressive-revelation-and-disillusionment/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [As the power of Christianity declined through the centuries that have followed the Reformation, Calvinism played a less and less important part, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/as-the-power-of-christianity-declined-through-the-centuries-that-have/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [True as this is, it is also true that for one who won through there were many who gained nothing, and it was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/true-as-this-is-it-is-also-true-that-for-one-who-won-through-there/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [These are not free men in any rational and exact sense of the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/these-are-not-free-men-in-any-rational-and-exact-sense-of-the-word/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [But freedom, liberty, is an attribute of the soul and it may exist even when the body is in bondage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/but-freedom-liberty-is-an-attribute-of-the-soul-and-it-may-exist-even/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [Christianity, democracy, science, education, wealth, and the cumulative inheritance of a thousand years, have not preserved us from the vain repetition of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/christianity-democracy-science-education-wealth-and-the-cumulative/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [Through the wholesale destruction of the representatives of a class that from the beginning of history had been the directing and creative force in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/through-the-wholesale-destruction-of-the-representatives-of-a-class/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) > [If we had this back, and in full measure; if society were infused by it, through and through, and men lived its life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/if-we-had-this-back-and-in-full-measure-if-society-were-infused-by-it/) [Ralph Adams Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) [Explore all 12 Ralph Adams Cram quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The pursuit of perfection always implies a definite aristocracy, which is as much a goal of effort as a noble philosophy, an august civil polity or a great art.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Adams Cram" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies-a-definite-aristocracy-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies-a-definite-aristocracy-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/ralph-adams-cram-37040_aristocracy_the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies_1859952.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The pursuit of perfection always implies a definite aristocracy, which is as much a goal of effort as a…” — Ralph Adams Cram", "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": "Ralph Adams Cram", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-adams-cram/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The pursuit of perfection always implies...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies-a-definite-aristocracy-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-adams-cram/the-pursuit-of-perfection-always-implies-a-definite-aristocracy-which/#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 } } ] } ```