--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line is that (a) people are…" description: "\"The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the mediocre and vile can be transformed, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/tom-robbins-169_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-nev_1304542.jpg" --- # The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but… ![“The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the mediocre and vile can be transformed, and (c) doing that makes it that. We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/tom-robbins-169_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-nev_1304542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/tom-robbins-169_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-nev_1304542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/tom-robbins-169_bottom-line_the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-nev_1304542.jpg) > “The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the mediocre and vile can be transformed, and (c) doing that makes it that. We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love can be cultivated, not just sought; creating perfect love is more effective than searching for a perfect partner. **In simple terms:** Love is a skill to develop, not a perfect match to find. Key Takeaway Focus on building love, not hunting perfection. Themes love personal growth relationships Mood hopeful inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - dating - marriage - friendship - self‑improvement Key Concepts creation transformation imperfection Questions to Reflect On - How can you actively nurture love? - What habits foster deeper connections? A Different Perspective Perfect partners are myths; effort matters more. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lover/) [Perfect love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-love/) [Perfect lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-lover/) ## Related quotes > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/we-waste-time-looking-for-the-perfect-lover-instead-of-creating-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Alas, two men are often necessary to provide a woman with a perfect lover, just as in literature a writer composes a type only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/alas-two-men-are-often-necessary-to-provide-a-woman-with-a-perfect/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love. --Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-waste-time-looking-for-the-perfect-lover-instead-of-creating-the-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We use to waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/we-use-to-waste-time-looking-for-the-perfect-lover-instead-of/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We Waste Time Looking For A Perfect Lover, Instead Of Creating A Perfect Love...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/we-waste-time-looking-for-a-perfect-lover-instead-of-creating-a/) Pacifiersucker > [New York is like that perfect lover that just won't commit but he's so good that you hang around anyway, NYC is dreamy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bevy-smith/new-york-is-like-that-perfect-lover-that-just-won-t-commit-but-he-s/) Bevy Smith > [Everyone wants perfect love... no one wants to be a perfect lover..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brijesh-singh/everyone-wants-perfect-love-no-one-wants-to-be-a-perfect-lover/) [brijesh singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brijesh-singh/) > [Virgin Immaculate, perfect lover of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we ask you to obtain for us the graces we need to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-julian-eymard/virgin-immaculate-perfect-lover-of-our-lord-in-the-blessed-sacrament/) [Peter Julian Eymard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-julian-eymard/) > [We spend so much time trying to find the perfect lover instead of creating the perfect love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-spend-so-much-time-trying-to-find-the-perfect-lover-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00 a.m.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-perfect-lover-is-one-who-turns-into-a-pizza-at-4-00-a-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We waste time searching for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/we-waste-time-searching-for-the-perfect-lover-instead-of-creating-the/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [We waste time looking for a perfect lover instead of creating a perfect love. We also forget that we are also not perfect in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cute-love/we-waste-time-looking-for-a-perfect-lover-instead-of-creating-a-2/) Cute Love > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Creating the perfect lyrics is not a process, it's just something that comes in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/creating-the-perfect-lyrics-is-not-a-process-it-s-just-something-that/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More Bottom line quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) Michael Catherwood > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 942 Bottom line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the mediocre and vile can be transformed, and (c) doing that makes it that. 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