--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took a lot of work to be perfect." description: "\"It took a lot of work to be perfect.\" — Sarah Dessen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png" --- # It took a lot of work to be perfect. ![“It took a lot of work to be perfect.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png) > “It took a lot of work to be perfect.” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection requires extensive effort, but it is an unattainable ideal that can cause stress and burnout. **In simple terms:** Being perfect takes a lot of work and is unrealistic. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and focus on progress. Themes perfection effort stress realism Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - creative projects - academic goals - personal development - career advancement Key Concepts self‑acceptance growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What standards are you setting for yourself? - How can you celebrate effort over outcome? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can lead to anxiety and diminish enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lot Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-work-235742/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Took Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-lot-609785/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-perfect-3268389/) ## Related quotes > [“Your job is to keep faith it will work out, i'n it's own perfect way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-karjala/your-job-is-to-keep-faith-it-will-work-out-i-n-it-s-own-perfect-way/) [Teri Karjala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-karjala/) > [I'm lucky to work in the most perfect of conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/i-m-lucky-to-work-in-the-most-perfect-of-conditions/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [It took a lot of work to be perfect. If you didn’t want to break a sweat, there was no point in even bothering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-if-you-didn-t-want-to-break-a/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [It took a lot of time for me to understand that I'm not competing against anybody but myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gerardo-mendez/it-took-a-lot-of-time-for-me-to-understand-that-i-m-not-competing/) [Luis Gerardo Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gerardo-mendez/) > [It took me a lot to get where I am right now, and I've had to make a lot of sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aryna-sabalenka/it-took-me-a-lot-to-get-where-i-am-right-now-and-i-ve-had-to-make-a/) [Aryna Sabalenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aryna-sabalenka/) > [Behind every SMILE, it took a whole lot of TEARS to get there.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-poet-of-agent-times/behind-every-smile-it-took-a-whole-lot-of-tears-to-get-there/) [The Poet Of Agent Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-poet-of-agent-times/) > [I took a lot of writing courses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/i-took-a-lot-of-writing-courses/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) > [I took a lot from friends, but also me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-took-a-lot-from-friends-but-also-me/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I took a lot of LSD over many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/i-took-a-lot-of-lsd-over-many-years/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [Middlesbrough took a lot out of me, it was enjoyable but draining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/middlesbrough-took-a-lot-out-of-me-it-was-enjoyable-but-draining/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I was on a couple of scholarships. I had a job in the school administrative office. I had a job as a hat-check boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-was-on-a-couple-of-scholarships-i-had-a-job-in-the-school/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Eventually I did that, but it took a lot of twists and turns, and there were a year or two there where I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renny-harlin/eventually-i-did-that-but-it-took-a-lot-of-twists-and-turns-and-there/) [Renny Harlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renny-harlin/) > [It took a lot out of me to win. But more than anything, when you are goalless, you are listless in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/it-took-a-lot-out-of-me-to-win-but-more-than-anything-when-you-are/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [“...she might not have been party to love, but it still took a lot of volume to fill a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/she-might-not-have-been-party-to-love-but-it-still-took-a-lot-of/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [My dad took a lot of pride in what he did for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-brodeur/my-dad-took-a-lot-of-pride-in-what-he-did-for-a-living/) [Martin Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-brodeur/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More Perfect quotes > [The World Is Perfect, But It Depends How You Look At.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/the-world-is-perfect-but-it-depends-how-you-look-at/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [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/) > [I don't claim 2 be perfect, but whatever I do is more then it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-claim-2-be-perfect-but-whatever-i-do-is-more-then-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [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/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [No Time For Goodbye is a deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/no-time-for-goodbye-is-a-deliciously-smart-thriller-full-of-surprises/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [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/) > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Sometimes parts just come along when it's the perfect time for you to do them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/sometimes-parts-just-come-along-when-it-s-the-perfect-time-for-you-to/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) [Browse all 10,571 Perfect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It took a lot of work to be perfect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Perfect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/sarah-dessen-110_perfect_it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect-2321_2321526.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It took a lot of work to be perfect.” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It took a lot of work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-took-a-lot-of-work-to-be-perfect/#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 } } ] } ```