--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What drives me is trying to be perfect." description: "\"What drives me is trying to be perfect.\" — Tony Gwynn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg" --- # What drives me is trying to be perfect. ![“What drives me is trying to be perfect.” quote by Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg) > “What drives me is trying to be perfect.” [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Striving for perfection drives personal motivation and actions. **In simple terms:** Perfection fuels effort. Key Takeaway Aim for excellence, not perfection. Themes motivation self-improvement perfectionism Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - athletics - career development - personal goals Key Concepts Psychology performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - What drives your pursuit of perfection? - How can you balance excellence with well‑being? A Different Perspective Perfection can cause burnout and dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Trying to be perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-be-perfect/) ## Related quotes > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Don't waste ur time trying to be perfect 4 anybody, those who truly luvs u will take u for just who u are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/don-t-waste-ur-time-trying-to-be-perfect-4-anybody-those-who-truly/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [So I grew up feeling that I wasn't good enough, and that no-one would love me unless I was perfect. But no-one's perfect, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/so-i-grew-up-feeling-that-i-wasn-t-good-enough-and-that-no-one-would/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Always trying to be perfect is just a recipe for disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-trying-to-be-perfect-is-just-a-recipe-for-disaster/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the end, trying to be perfect is the unconscious social effort to please ourselves by pleasing these others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/in-the-end-trying-to-be-perfect-is-the-unconscious-social-effort-to/) George Robinson > [It's not about trying to be perfect. It's not about trying to walk the straight and narrow. It's about loving who you are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-c-moore/it-s-not-about-trying-to-be-perfect-it-s-not-about-trying-to-walk-the/) [Adrienne C. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-c-moore/) > [Sometimes I stress too much and don't have fun. If you're trying to be perfect, sometimes it backfires on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-pennington/sometimes-i-stress-too-much-and-don-t-have-fun-if-you-re-trying-to-be/) [Chad Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-pennington/) > [Our society nurtures the illusion that all the rewards go to the people who are perfect. But many of us are finding out that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/our-society-nurtures-the-illusion-that-all-the-rewards-go-to-the/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [People always try to be perfect. That's why they don't start anything. Perfection is the lowest standard in the world. Because if you're trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/people-always-try-to-be-perfect-that-s-why-they-don-t-start-anything/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I don’t want to be perfect. I want to be useful, I want to be good, and I want to sound like myself. Trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/i-don-t-want-to-be-perfect-i-want-to-be-useful-i-want-to-be-good-and/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) > [Go out there and let it rip and don't worry about overthinking things and trying to be perfect. Because when you try to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/go-out-there-and-let-it-rip-and-don-t-worry-about-overthinking-things/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [I'm trying to be perfect. Ah wait! NO! I'm trying to be like how my girl wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yash-tiwari/i-m-trying-to-be-perfect-ah-wait-no-i-m-trying-to-be-like-how-my-girl/) Yash Tiwari > [I'm Trying: I'm trying To be perfect. I'm trying To be good. I'm trying To be what you want. I'm trying To be beautiful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pm/i-m-trying-i-m-trying-to-be-perfect-i-m-trying-to-be-good-i-m-trying/) PM > [I know at least for me, man, I wanted to be the best dad I could be. I was trying to be perfect. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-know-at-least-for-me-man-i-wanted-to-be-the-best-dad-i-could-be-i/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/want-to-be-happy-stop-trying-to-be-perfect/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by Tony Gwynn > [Remember these two things: play hard and have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/remember-these-two-things-play-hard-and-have-fun/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [Nobody talked about my defense or that I used to steal bases, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/nobody-talked-about-my-defense-or-that-i-used-to-steal-bases-too/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [Like a lot of kids, you kind of think baseball's boring - that's the perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/like-a-lot-of-kids-you-kind-of-think-baseball-s-boring-that-s-the/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [When I was a kid, man, my dad used to buy me the Ted Williams glove at Sears with the Ted Williams shoes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/when-i-was-a-kid-man-my-dad-used-to-buy-me-the-ted-williams-glove-at/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I'm a chemistry guy. I believe you've got to play together to have a chance to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-m-a-chemistry-guy-i-believe-you-ve-got-to-play-together-to-have-a/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I try to keep it real simple. I try not to add a lot of frosting on what I'm doing. Just take the swing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-try-to-keep-it-real-simple-i-try-not-to-add-a-lot-of-frosting-on/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I think if you enjoy teaching, if you enjoy talking about your craft, that's probably the best way to do it... because once a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-think-if-you-enjoy-teaching-if-you-enjoy-talking-about-your-craft/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I was a contact hitter my whole career but I learned how to handle the ball inside. And Ted Williams played a big part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-was-a-contact-hitter-my-whole-career-but-i-learned-how-to-handle/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I'm coaching 'swing at this, don't swing at that,' and in the middle of it, a kid looks at me and says, 'Coach, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-m-coaching-swing-at-this-don-t-swing-at-that-and-in-the-middle-of/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [Either you have the ability to hit or not. But I also think you have to work at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/either-you-have-the-ability-to-hit-or-not-but-i-also-think-you-have/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I had no idea that all the things in my career were going to happen. I sure didn't see it. I just know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-had-no-idea-that-all-the-things-in-my-career-were-going-to-happen-i/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [When you sign your name on the dotted line, it's more than just playing baseball. You have a responsibility to make good decisions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/when-you-sign-your-name-on-the-dotted-line-it-s-more-than-just/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [Ted Williams is one of the best hitters ever to play the game, and I didn't get a chance to see him play, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/ted-williams-is-one-of-the-best-hitters-ever-to-play-the-game-and-i/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [I think the ability to hit - some guys have it and some guys don't - but I think how dedicated you are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/i-think-the-ability-to-hit-some-guys-have-it-and-some-guys-don-t-but/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) > [Knowing the strike zone is very important, but I think the first thing is knowing yourself, knowing what things you do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/knowing-the-strike-zone-is-very-important-but-i-think-the-first-thing/) [Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) [Explore all 22 Tony Gwynn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/) ## More Drives quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [When I go to my health club, and it's in the basement, you have to take the elevator down. And this drives me crazy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/when-i-go-to-my-health-club-and-it-s-in-the-basement-you-have-to-take/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Just as Wall Street needs to break the hold of the bonus culture, which drives risk-taking that is rational for individuals but damaging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-schekman/just-as-wall-street-needs-to-break-the-hold-of-the-bonus-culture/) [Randy Schekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-schekman/) > [The fear of failure. Failure definitely drives me more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/the-fear-of-failure-failure-definitely-drives-me-more-than-anything/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [What is the engine that drives economic growth in an ideopolis? The university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/what-is-the-engine-that-drives-economic-growth-in-an-ideopolis-the/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [You've got to sustain drives in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-olsen/you-ve-got-to-sustain-drives-in-this-league/) [Greg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-olsen/) > [I have this lock of hair that keeps falling across my forehead. It drives me mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/i-have-this-lock-of-hair-that-keeps-falling-across-my-forehead-it/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [“find what drives us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pink/find-what-drives-us/) [Daniel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pink/) > [One of my obsession is animals. I'm into dog rescues. It drives me crazy when people go to pet stores and buy dogs. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-o-heir/one-of-my-obsession-is-animals-i-m-into-dog-rescues-it-drives-me/) [Jim O'Heir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-o-heir/) > [My wife loves cars, but the difference is she doesn't have 20 years of understanding the background of them. She basically drives them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/my-wife-loves-cars-but-the-difference-is-she-doesn-t-have-20-years-of/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [It is really want, rather than need, that drives the process of technological evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/it-is-really-want-rather-than-need-that-drives-the-process-of/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [As an entrepreneur, what drives you has to be the good news; otherwise, you just don't get out of bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-massenet/as-an-entrepreneur-what-drives-you-has-to-be-the-good-news-otherwise/) [Natalie Massenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-massenet/) > [Narrative drives most of economics. Everything seems to be part of a story, and how that story is told often leads to critical error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/narrative-drives-most-of-economics-everything-seems-to-be-part-of-a/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [The death drive is parasitic. It runs off of other drives, leeching off of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/the-death-drive-is-parasitic-it-runs-off-of-other-drives-leeching-off/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) Browse all 213 Drives quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What drives me is trying to be perfect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Gwynn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drives" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/tony-gwynn-26222_drives_what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect-3_3053411.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What drives me is trying to be perfect.” — Tony Gwynn", "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": "Tony Gwynn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What drives me is trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/what-drives-me-is-trying-to-be-perfect/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/what-drives-me-is-trying-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 } } ] } ```