--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Working toward perfection is not a one…" description: "\"Working toward perfection is not a one time decision but a process to be pursued throughout one's lifetime.\" — Spencer W. Kimball" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/spencer-w-kimball-1179_decision_working-toward-perfection-is-not-a-one-t_552557.jpg" --- # Working toward perfection is not a one time decision but a… ![“Working toward perfection is not a one time decision but a process to be pursued throughout one's lifetime.” quote by Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/spencer-w-kimball-1179_decision_working-toward-perfection-is-not-a-one-t_552557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/spencer-w-kimball-1179_decision_working-toward-perfection-is-not-a-one-t_552557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/spencer-w-kimball-1179_decision_working-toward-perfection-is-not-a-one-t_552557.jpg) > “Working toward perfection is not a one time decision but a process to be pursued throughout one's lifetime.” [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is a lifelong journey, requiring continual effort and dedication rather than a single decision. **In simple terms:** Perfection requires ongoing effort. Key Takeaway Commit to continual improvement. Themes perfection process lifelong learning dedication Mood motivational practical Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - career development - skill mastery - spiritual practice - personal health Key Concepts Self‑improvement spiritual discipline habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you stay motivated over time? A Different Perspective Perfection may be unattainable; focus on progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“He pursued a lifetime of abuse that could only come from a warped relationship with the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/he-pursued-a-lifetime-of-abuse-that-could-only-come-from-a-warped/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [“I really am crazy about you. Every second I spend with you is better than the one before, but I honestly don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-rae/i-really-am-crazy-about-you-every-second-i-spend-with-you-is-better/) [Isabelle Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-rae/) > [“And you could try to stop pretending to be so fucking perfect. Maybe then people will stop expecting perfection all the time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/and-you-could-try-to-stop-pretending-to-be-so-fucking-perfect-maybe/) [Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/) > [Love and Life, awaiting perfection with time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-and-life-awaiting-perfection-with-time-and-patience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“... crowding together to see something which would ease the boredom of perfection and time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordwainer-smith/crowding-together-to-see-something-which-would-ease-the-boredom-of/) [Cordwainer Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordwainer-smith/) > [There is no such thing as perfection and at the same time perfection exist. That is because everyone has a different understanding to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-and-at-the-same-time-perfection/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/preparedness-when-properly-pursued-is-a-way-of-life-not-a-sudden-2/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. We could refer to all the components of personal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/preparedness-when-properly-pursued-is-a-way-of-life-not-a-sudden/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“A phrase began to beat in my ears with a sort of heady excitement: "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/a-phrase-began-to-beat-in-my-ears-with-a-sort-of-heady-excitement/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [For my first gig, I got $75. I could make money being funny, so I pursued it as a career and have turned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/for-my-first-gig-i-got-75-i-could-make-money-being-funny-so-i-pursued/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [And all of these together, as much as any campaign the Marine Corps has ever pursued, have brought an unrelenting, never-ceasing pride to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/and-all-of-these-together-as-much-as-any-campaign-the-marine-corps/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“All my life I have been pursued by the black dogs of unaccountable gloom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pyper/all-my-life-i-have-been-pursued-by-the-black-dogs-of-unaccountable/) [Andrew Pyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-pyper/) > [Only by being suspended aloft, by dangling my mind in the heavens and mingling my rare thought with the ethereal air, could I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/only-by-being-suspended-aloft-by-dangling-my-mind-in-the-heavens-and/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More by Spencer W. Kimball > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/you-are-unique-and-there-may-be-incidents-in-your-experience-that-are/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [We have a commitment to serve our Lord. We have an assurance that the cause is just and worthy. But, above all, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/we-have-a-commitment-to-serve-our-lord-we-have-an-assurance-that-the/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Self-justification is the enemy of repentance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/self-justification-is-the-enemy-of-repentance/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Henry Ward Beecher expressed the thought this way: "I can forgive but I cannot forget is another way of saying I cannot forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/henry-ward-beecher-expressed-the-thought-this-way-i-can-forgive-but-i/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“While addressing the Saints from this pulpit in 1948, the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., spoke concerning having a prophet and a listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/while-addressing-the-saints-from-this-pulpit-in-1948-the-late/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [ \[Humility is:\] Greatness in plain clothes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/humility-is-greatness-in-plain-clothes/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [ “There may be some who would disregard \[the family\] and ignore the important things, yet we feel that almost everyone who stops to think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/there-may-be-some-who-would-disregard-the-family-and-ignore-the/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Jesus perfected his life and became our Christ. Priceless blood of a god was shed, and he became our Savior; his perfected life was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/jesus-perfected-his-life-and-became-our-christ-priceless-blood-of-a/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [To be sure your life will be full and abundant, you must plan your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/to-be-sure-your-life-will-be-full-and-abundant-you-must-plan-your-life/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Life gives to all the choice. You can satisfy yourself with mediocrity if you wish. You can be common, ordinary, dull, colorless, or yyou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/life-gives-to-all-the-choice-you-can-satisfy-yourself-with-mediocrity/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Always keep good company. Never waste an hour with anyone who doesn't lift you up and encourage you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/always-keep-good-company-never-waste-an-hour-with-anyone-who-doesn-t/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Honorable, happy, and successful marriage is surely the principal goal of every normal person. Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/honorable-happy-and-successful-marriage-is-surely-the-principal-goal/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [A dozen times a day we come to a fork in the road and must decide which way we will go. It is important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/a-dozen-times-a-day-we-come-to-a-fork-in-the-road-and-must-decide/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) [Explore all 278 Spencer W. Kimball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Working toward perfection is not a one time decision but a process to be pursued throughout one's lifetime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Spencer W. 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