--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man always is perfect, or he never could…" description: "\"Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he had to realise it.\" — Swami Vivekananda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg" --- # Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he… ![“Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he had to realise it.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg) > “Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he had to realise it.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## 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 unattainable; striving for growth requires acknowledging imperfection. **In simple terms:** We can’t be perfect, but we can improve. Key Takeaway Accept limits, pursue growth. Themes self‑improvement philosophy humility Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - personal development - leadership - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does “perfect” mean to you? - How can you balance acceptance and ambition? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can motivate progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Each man is perfect by his nature; prophets have manifested this perfection, but it is potential in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/each-man-is-perfect-by-his-nature-prophets-have-manifested-this/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [When you work with a great director, you realise you are far from being a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/when-you-work-with-a-great-director-you-realise-you-are-far-from/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [When one is young, aspiring to play for the country, doing well, any hindrance, like injury or being out of form, can be frustrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuvraj-singh/when-one-is-young-aspiring-to-play-for-the-country-doing-well-any/) [Yuvraj Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuvraj-singh/) > [I don't mean to be overly sensitive or anything like that, but you just have to take a minute in every day, and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-don-t-mean-to-be-overly-sensitive-or-anything-like-that-but-you/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [When you get to see the world, it changes you. You realise that there are all kinds of people out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suraj-sharma/when-you-get-to-see-the-world-it-changes-you-you-realise-that-there/) [Suraj Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suraj-sharma/) > [When you are young, nothing is more important than football, but as you get older, you get married, have kids and lose people. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/when-you-are-young-nothing-is-more-important-than-football-but-as-you/) [Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/) > [Live television is always stressful and the more you do it, the more you realise what can go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/live-television-is-always-stressful-and-the-more-you-do-it-the-more/) [Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/) > [Art is a lie that makes us realise truth ... that is given us to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-is-a-lie-that-makes-us-realise-truth-that-is-given-us-to/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [One of the things that you never realise while you are young is that things do come to an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ogilvie/one-of-the-things-that-you-never-realise-while-you-are-young-is-that/) [George Ogilvie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ogilvie/) > [I think sometimes I don't realise how much the pressure gets to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-payne/i-think-sometimes-i-don-t-realise-how-much-the-pressure-gets-to-me/) [Liam Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-payne/) > [Foyles War made me realise that Churchill actually had questionable morals; his decisions meant that good people died. 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It took me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-doillon/it-took-me-so-long-to-get-to-the-music-where-that-was-what-i-wanted/) [Lou Doillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-doillon/) > [I thought I'd reached the bottom a few times, but then I'd realise there was another 30 floors of despair below that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-thought-i-d-reached-the-bottom-a-few-times-but-then-i-d-realise/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Human beings quotes > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) Kenan Malik > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. It has been engaged in everywhere, from the dregs of society to the most respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-bernstein/gambling-has-held-human-beings-in-thrall-for-millennia-it-has-been/) [Peter L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanns-eisler/a-composer-knows-that-music-is-written-by-human-beings-for-human/) Hanns Eisler > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Human beings seek community, and permanent openness is hard to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/human-beings-seek-community-and-permanent-openness-is-hard-to-sustain/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) [Browse all 6,948 Human beings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he had to realise it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Swami Vivekananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could-become-so-but-he-had-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Human beings" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could-become-so-but-he-had-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/swami-vivekananda-53_human-beings_man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could_1153438.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he had to realise it.” — Swami Vivekananda", "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": "Swami Vivekananda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man always is perfect, or he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could-become-so-but-he-had-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-always-is-perfect-or-he-never-could-become-so-but-he-had-to/#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 } } ] } ```