--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perfection is not a prerequisite for…" description: "\"“Perfection is not a prerequisite for anything but pain.”\" — Tara Brach" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png" --- # Perfection is not a prerequisite for anything but pain. ![“Perfection is not a prerequisite for anything but pain.” quote by Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png) > ““Perfection is not a prerequisite for anything but pain.”” [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) ## 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 unnecessary; pain is inevitable, so accept imperfection. **In simple terms:** Imperfection is okay. Key Takeaway Embrace flaws, reduce suffering. Themes acceptance imperfection pain Mood calm empathetic Type inspirational self‑help When to use this quote - personal growth - creative work - relationships Key Concepts mindfulness self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What would change if you let go of perfection? - How does accepting pain foster resilience? A Different Perspective Striving for perfection can increase distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Prerequisite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prerequisite/) ## Related quotes > [“Perfectionism is not a prerequisite for anything but pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danna-faulds/perfectionism-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-anything-but-pain/) Danna Faulds > [Freedom is the basic prerequisite for writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gao-xingjian/freedom-is-the-basic-prerequisite-for-writing/) [Gao Xingjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gao-xingjian/) > [“The prerequisite for being in authority is recognizing that one is always under authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rigney/the-prerequisite-for-being-in-authority-is-recognizing-that-one-is/) [Joe Rigney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rigney/) > [“To have absolute success in any area, the most important prerequisite must be that you have a passion for doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-bray-attwood/to-have-absolute-success-in-any-area-the-most-important-prerequisite/) [Janet, Bray Attwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-bray-attwood/) > [“Your money is just a condition to get my business, your professionalism is the price.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/your-money-is-just-a-condition-to-get-my-business-your/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Repenting and coming unto Christ through the covenants and ordinances of salvation are prerequisite to and a preparation for being sanctified by the reception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/repenting-and-coming-unto-christ-through-the-covenants-and-ordinances/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [“The Prerequisite of any "Success Story" is the decision to commit in giving up your own soul to the Journey that you are about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-fawzi/the-prerequisite-of-any-success-story-is-the-decision-to-commit-in/) [Hisham Fawzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-fawzi/) > [“There comes a time when everyone should seriously empathise. Wikipedia defines empathy as “the capacity to recognise feelings that are being experienced by another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mango-wodzak/there-comes-a-time-when-everyone-should-seriously-empathise-wikipedia/) [Mango Wodzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mango-wodzak/) > [Suffering is not a prerequisite for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-tatelbaum/suffering-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-happiness/) [Judy Tatelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-tatelbaum/) > [“So much of magic-of power, in general-required belief as a prerequisite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/so-much-of-magic-of-power-in-general-required-belief-as-a-prerequisite/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [... learning humility is a prerequisite for grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/learning-humility-is-a-prerequisite-for-grace/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“it’s almost a prerequisite that you master the techniques of workplace bullying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-klein/it-s-almost-a-prerequisite-that-you-master-the-techniques-of/) [Stefan Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-klein/) > [Don't tell your stories to anyone. You'll be more motivated knowing it's a prerequisite to having an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/don-t-tell-your-stories-to-anyone-you-ll-be-more-motivated-knowing-it/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [It's not a prerequisite for an actor to be obsessed about his looks. I know there are people who don't look in the mirror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/it-s-not-a-prerequisite-for-an-actor-to-be-obsessed-about-his-looks-i/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) ## More by Tara Brach > [It is natural that our minds replay old stories, because that is our own mechanism for trying to work out unresolved problems. Yet rerunning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/it-is-natural-that-our-minds-replay-old-stories-because-that-is-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [The great gift of a spiritual path is coming to trust that you can find a way to true refuge. You realize that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/the-great-gift-of-a-spiritual-path-is-coming-to-trust-that-you-can/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Sometimes the easiest way to appreciate ourselves is by looking through the eyes of someone who loves us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/sometimes-the-easiest-way-to-appreciate-ourselves-is-by-looking/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [By taking the time to explore charged memories in therapy we might uncover feelings that have been buried for decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/by-taking-the-time-to-explore-charged-memories-in-therapy-we-might/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [To me, bringing mindfulness-bas ed practices to students, teachers and parents is some of the most important work we can be doing. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/to-me-bringing-mindfulness-bas-ed-practices-to-students-teachers-and/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [The mistake we make is that when we're feeling another person is not treating us in the way that makes us feel secure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/the-mistake-we-make-is-that-when-we-re-feeling-another-person-is-not/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Emotions are the interaction of thoughts and of sensations in the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/emotions-are-the-interaction-of-thoughts-and-of-sensations-in-the-body/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Our attitude in the face of life's challenges determines our suffering or our freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/our-attitude-in-the-face-of-life-s-challenges-determines-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Become a witness to your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/become-a-witness-to-your-thoughts/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [My prayer became 'May I find peace... May I love this life no matter what.' I was seeking an inner refuge, an experience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/my-prayer-became-may-i-find-peace-may-i-love-this-life-no-matter-what/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [When we see the secret beauty of anyone, including ourselves, we see past our judgment and fear into the core of who we truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/when-we-see-the-secret-beauty-of-anyone-including-ourselves-we-see/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [I think it's possible to have experiences of love without attachment, but I think part of our conditioning is to grasp at times, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/i-think-it-s-possible-to-have-experiences-of-love-without-attachment/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [But this revolutionary act of treating ourselves tenderly can begin to undo the aversive messages of a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/but-this-revolutionary-act-of-treating-ourselves-tenderly-can-begin/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Stories about ourselves and about the world continually arise in our minds and shape our beliefs about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/stories-about-ourselves-and-about-the-world-continually-arise-in-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Discovering a richer quality of being-ness means to keep surrendering and letting go of resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/discovering-a-richer-quality-of-being-ness-means-to-keep-surrendering/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) [Explore all 200 Tara Brach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) ## More Excellence quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perfection is not a prerequisite for anything but pain.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tara Brach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-anything-but-pain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-anything-but-pain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/tara-brach-1898_excellence_perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-any_2198258.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perfection is not a prerequisite for anything but pain.” — Tara Brach", "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": "Tara Brach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Perfection is not a prerequisite for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-anything-but-pain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/perfection-is-not-a-prerequisite-for-anything-but-pain/#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 } } ] } ```