---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I slowly realized that perfectionism just…"
description: "\"I slowly realized that perfectionism just not that important. What's more important is to try to love the people around you. Whatever that means at a p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg"
---

#  I slowly realized that perfectionism just not that…

![“I slowly realized that perfectionism just not that important. What's more important is to try to love the people around you. Whatever that means at a particular time is the best you can do.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg)

> “I slowly realized that perfectionism just not that important. What's more important is to try to love the people around you. Whatever that means at a particular time is the best you can do.”

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Perfectionism is less vital than caring for others; the best effort is loving those around you as circumstances allow.

**In simple terms:** Caring for others outweighs perfectionism.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize love over flawless performance.

Themes

relationships self‑acceptance growth

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- friendship conflicts
- workplace teamwork
- personal setbacks

Key Concepts

empathy imperfection human connection

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance self‑improvement with compassion?
- What does “loving people” look like in daily life?

A Different Perspective

Perfectionism can still hinder personal standards and achievement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-important/) [Love The People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-the-people/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) [Perfectionism Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism-just-3117814/) [Realized Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized-perfectionism-3117815/) [Slowly Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowly-realized-3117816/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/)

## Related quotes

> [I have struggled with perfectionism and I think it's a really damaging thing in my own life. When we put that perfectionism on someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-st-james/i-have-struggled-with-perfectionism-and-i-think-it-s-a-really/)

[Rebecca St. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-st-james/)

> [“And that gives me a lot of hope, because if I don’t know what perfect means, it’s not something I can reach on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-that-gives-me-a-lot-of-hope-because-if-i-don-t-know-what-perfect/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [There's really no way to be perfect. Perfectionism is a silly trait to have, so in a lot of ways that inspired the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/there-s-really-no-way-to-be-perfect-perfectionism-is-a-silly-trait-to/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [Every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling 'This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-day-the-world-will-drag-you-by-the-hand-yelling-this-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm a person who enjoys history, and history is very important to us - very very important it's about making judgement on history. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/i-m-a-person-who-enjoys-history-and-history-is-very-important-to-us/)

[Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/)

> [Football is the most important of the less important things in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ancelotti/football-is-the-most-important-of-the-less-important-things-in-the/)

[Carlo Ancelotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ancelotti/)

> [“It is nice to be important, but it is very important for you to be nice to people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herdeymorlah/it-is-nice-to-be-important-but-it-is-very-important-for-you-to-be/)

[Herdeymorlah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herdeymorlah/)

> [Some tournaments maybe are important for others, while some are important for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-v-sindhu/some-tournaments-maybe-are-important-for-others-while-some-are/)

[P. V. Sindhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-v-sindhu/)

> [It's not where you start or even what happens to you along the way that's important. What is important is that you persevere and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-s-not-where-you-start-or-even-what-happens-to-you-along-the-way/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [Anything Is More Important When You Cannot Get It. When You Can Get It This Is Less Important To You. This Is The Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/anything-is-more-important-when-you-cannot-get-it-when-you-can-get-it/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [Football is important, but it's not the most important thing anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/football-is-important-but-it-s-not-the-most-important-thing-anymore/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [School is very important; it was very important for me. It gave me an enormous amount of confidence, especially at Yale where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/school-is-very-important-it-was-very-important-for-me-it-gave-me-an/)

[Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/)

> [...if anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-anything-matters-then-everything-matters-because-you-are-important/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Its nice to be important, but its important to be nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-nice-to-be-important-but-its-important-to-be-nice/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Obviously, my wife is very important, very important because in all this time she never watched me with that look that means 'I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-zanardi/obviously-my-wife-is-very-important-very-important-because-in-all/)

[Alex Zanardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-zanardi/)

## More by Veronica Roth

> [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

[Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

## More Can do quotes

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/)

[Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/)

> [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/)

[Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

> [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/)

[Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/)

> [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

> [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/)

[Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/)

[James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/)

> [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/)

[Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/)

[Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I slowly realized that perfectionism just not that important. What's more important is to try to love the people around you. Whatever that means at a particular time is the best you can do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Veronica Roth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-just-not-that-important-what-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Can do"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-just-not-that-important-what-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/veronica-roth-66_can-do_i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-jus_1944325.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I slowly realized that perfectionism just not that important. What's more important is to try to love the…” — Veronica Roth",
                "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": "Veronica Roth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I slowly realized that perfectionism just...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-just-not-that-important-what-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-slowly-realized-that-perfectionism-just-not-that-important-what-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
