--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Progress is the goal, the ideal is the…" description: "\"“Progress is the goal, the ideal is the type. What is this ideal? It is God. Ideal, absolute, perfection, infinity: identical words.”\" — Victor Hugo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fb/victor-hugo-32_excellence_progress-is-the-goal-the-ideal-is-the-ty_1439138.jpg" --- # Progress is the goal, the ideal is the type. What is this… ![“Progress is the goal, the ideal is the type. What is this ideal? It is God. Ideal, absolute, perfection, infinity: identical words.” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fb/victor-hugo-32_excellence_progress-is-the-goal-the-ideal-is-the-ty_1439138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fb/victor-hugo-32_excellence_progress-is-the-goal-the-ideal-is-the-ty_1439138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fb/victor-hugo-32_excellence_progress-is-the-goal-the-ideal-is-the-ty_1439138.jpg) > ““Progress is the goal, the ideal is the type. What is this ideal? It is God. Ideal, absolute, perfection, infinity: identical words.”” [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ultimate standard is a divine, infinite perfection that guides human aspirations. **In simple terms:** God is the perfect ideal. Key Takeaway Align goals with higher principles. Themes philosophy spirituality idealism Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - ethical decision making - artistic creation Key Concepts divine perfection infinite ideal human aspiration Questions to Reflect On - What does an “ideal” look like for you? - Can striving for perfection hinder progress? A Different Perspective Perfection may be unattainable, leading to frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Goal Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-ideal-969976/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [God Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-ideal-1834300/) [Ideal Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-absolute-2455076/) [Ideal God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-god-1760759/) [Perfection Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-infinity-5145561/) ## Related quotes > [“• God is man squared. That is to say, God is man raised to a higher power. • Man is the root, the square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-yarrow/god-is-man-squared-that-is-to-say-god-is-man-raised-to-a-higher-power/) [Bill Yarrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-yarrow/) > [The ideal is the only absolute real; and it must become the real in the individual life as well, however impossible they may count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-ideal-is-the-only-absolute-real-and-it-must-become-the-real-in/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [All that is active, all that is enveloped in time and space, is endowed with what might be described as an abstract, ideal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/all-that-is-active-all-that-is-enveloped-in-time-and-space-is-endowed/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/success-is-the-progressive-realization-of-a-worthy-goal-or-ideal/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Do not direct all your energies towards seeking pleasure but rather towards a sublime ideal. Your energies will then serve you and contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omraam-mikhael-aivanhov/do-not-direct-all-your-energies-towards-seeking-pleasure-but-rather/) [Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omraam-mikhael-aivanhov/) > [Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/peace-as-a-goal-is-an-ideal-which-will-not-be-contested-by-any/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-ideal-god-holds-for-us-is-to-form-families-in-the-way-most-likely/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [“Only the past week, Father had orchestrated a discussion between Thomas and me on the topic of exotic fossilized creatures. Thomas argued that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/only-the-past-week-father-had-orchestrated-a-discussion-between/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Where God and man are in relationship, this must be the ideal. 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Everyone understands that. We understand is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-holmes/everybody-understands-that-the-basis-of-being-a-christian-is-that/) [Anna Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-holmes/) > [Blessed is he who carries within himself a God, an ideal, and who obeys it: ideal of art, ideal of science, ideal of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/blessed-is-he-who-carries-within-himself-a-god-an-ideal-and-who-obeys/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Blessed is he who carries within himself a God, an ideal, and obeys it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/blessed-is-he-who-carries-within-himself-a-god-an-ideal-and-obeys-it/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Justice is the idea of God, the ideal of man, the rule of conduct writ in the nature of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/justice-is-the-idea-of-god-the-ideal-of-man-the-rule-of-conduct-writ/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) ## More by Victor Hugo > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“First I loved women, then animals, and now I love stones. They're just as amusing as women and animals and they're much less trecherous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/first-i-loved-women-then-animals-and-now-i-love-stones-they-re-just/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Nature is pitiless; she never withdraws her flowers, her music, her fragrance, and her sunlight from before human cruelty or suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/nature-is-pitiless-she-never-withdraws-her-flowers-her-music-her/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The peasants of the Asturias believe that in every litter of wolves there is one pup that is killed by the mother for fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-peasants-of-the-asturias-believe-that-in-every-litter-of-wolves/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Great blunders are often made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/great-blunders-are-often-made-like-large-ropes-of-a-multitude-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“For love is like a tree; it grows of itself; it send its roots deep into our being, and often continues to grow green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/for-love-is-like-a-tree-it-grows-of-itself-it-send-its-roots-deep/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Blacheville smiles with the self-satisfied smugness of a man whose vanity is tickled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/blacheville-smiles-with-the-self-satisfied-smugness-of-a-man-whose/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Loving in ignorance, she loved with all the more passion. She did not know whether it was good or evil, beneficent or dangerous, necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/loving-in-ignorance-she-loved-with-all-the-more-passion-she-did-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/laughter-is-the-sun-that-drives-winter-from-the-human-face/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Our joys have shadows. The perfect smile belongs to God alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/our-joys-have-shadows-the-perfect-smile-belongs-to-god-alone/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“When those we love are in question, our prudence invents every sort of madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-those-we-love-are-in-question-our-prudence-invents-every-sort-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Love is a fault; so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-a-fault-so-be-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Explore all 2,181 Victor Hugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Progress is the goal, the ideal is the type. 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