--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People always try to be perfect. That's…" description: "\"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 to be p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/tony-robbins-232_achieve_people-always-try-to-be-perfect-that-s-w_415411.jpg" --- # People always try to be perfect. That's why they don't… ![“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 to be perfect, you know you can't be. So what you really have is a standard you can never achieve. You want to be outstanding, not perfect.” quote by Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/tony-robbins-232_achieve_people-always-try-to-be-perfect-that-s-w_415411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/tony-robbins-232_achieve_people-always-try-to-be-perfect-that-s-w_415411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/tony-robbins-232_achieve_people-always-try-to-be-perfect-that-s-w_415411.jpg) > “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 to be perfect, you know you can't be. So what you really have is a standard you can never achieve. You want to be outstanding, not perfect.” [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## 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 creates an unattainable standard, paralyzing action; aim for excellence instead. **In simple terms:** Perfection blocks progress. Key Takeaway Pursue excellence, not flawless results. Themes perfection action standards Mood motivational inspirational Type growth encouraging When to use this quote - career projects - creative endeavors - personal goals - learning new skills Key Concepts psychology of self goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What does excellence look like for you? - How can you measure progress without perfection? A Different Perspective Perfection can motivate high quality when balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Trying to be perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-be-perfect/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I'm trying to be perfect. Ah wait! 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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/) > [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/) > [Trying to be perfect is exhausting. I would much rather just be me - flaws and all. I want you to take off your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakare/trying-to-be-perfect-is-exhausting-i-would-much-rather-just-be-me/) [Bakare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakare/) ## More by Tony Robbins > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [When you feel you have good although incomplete expertise, start trying things. If it's not working, try something else; maintain an experimental mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/when-you-feel-you-have-good-although-incomplete-expertise-start/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. 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