---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't thrive in a word-perfect…"
description: "\"I don't thrive in a word-perfect environment.\" — Zooey Deschanel"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png"
---

#  I don't thrive in a word-perfect environment.

![“I don't thrive in a word-perfect environment.” quote by Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png)

> “I don't thrive in a word-perfect environment.”

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker prefers environments that allow flexibility over strict perfection.

**In simple terms:** Prefer flexible over perfect settings.

Key Takeaway

Embrace imperfection for creativity.

Themes

creativity workplace perfectionism flexibility well‑being

Mood

relaxed optimistic playful

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- creative projects
- team collaboration
- remote work
- personal hobbies

Key Concepts

Psychology productivity self‑acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- What tasks suffer when you seek perfection?
- How does flexibility boost your output?

A Different Perspective

Perfectionism can still hinder progress despite flexibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/)

## Related quotes

> [If anything, my mother taught me how to sur-thrive. That's my word for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/if-anything-my-mother-taught-me-how-to-sur-thrive-that-s-my-word-for/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [“Jordan used to say that the perfect environment for a game is a closed space, be it in the seven cars in The Last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-moran/jordan-used-to-say-that-the-perfect-environment-for-a-game-is-a/)

Mark Moran

> [“The more skilful you are in creating the perfect environment for yourself, the more you will enjoy life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-more-skilful-you-are-in-creating-the-perfect-environment-for/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [To make a decision you need to be in a perfect environment: you have to be motivated and surrounded by the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/to-make-a-decision-you-need-to-be-in-a-perfect-environment-you-have/)

[Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/)

> [I have now and again tried to imagine the perfect environment, the ideal conditions for reading: A worn leather armchair on a rainy night?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/i-have-now-and-again-tried-to-imagine-the-perfect-environment-the/)

[Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/)

> [We can no more create the perfect environment for our children than we can create perfect children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/we-can-no-more-create-the-perfect-environment-for-our-children-than/)

[Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/)

> [“But we must come to realise that every word is perfect, including those we scratch out. As my pen moves across this page the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/but-we-must-come-to-realise-that-every-word-is-perfect-including/)

[Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/)

> [On 'Masters of Sex,' especially in the pilot, everybody was showing up word-perfect, and you're expected to show up word-perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/on-masters-of-sex-especially-in-the-pilot-everybody-was-showing-up-2/)

[Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/)

> [On Masters of Sex, especially in the pilot, everybody was showing up word-perfect, and youre expected to show up word-perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/on-masters-of-sex-especially-in-the-pilot-everybody-was-showing-up/)

[Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/)

> [Iv tried so long to put why I feel the way I do into words but only one comes into mind and that word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charming-edwin/iv-tried-so-long-to-put-why-i-feel-the-way-i-do-into-words-but-only/)

Charming Edwin

> [At Gatling-gun tempo word-perfect the first time out. the journalistic equivalent of a high-wire front somersault without a net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/at-gatling-gun-tempo-word-perfect-the-first-time-out-the-journalistic/)

[Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/)

> [A man known for the word Perfect doesn't means he was destined to be He simply made himself to come into being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/a-man-known-for-the-word-perfect-doesn-t-means-he-was-destined-to-be/)

[Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/)

> [Some people fool them self waiting to find the Perfect Man/Woman. Noting in this world is Perfect, Perfect Is Just a very nice word.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/some-people-fool-them-self-waiting-to-find-the-perfect-man-woman/)

[Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/)

> [I like having a schedule. I tend to be the type of person that thrives on something being regular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-like-having-a-schedule-i-tend-to-be-the-type-of-person-that-thrives/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I thrive on production. It feels very much like a natural environment for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-thrive-on-production-it-feels-very-much-like-a-natural-environment/)

[Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/)

## More by Zooey Deschanel

> [Anyone who knows me knows that I am really into hair. I'm a real girly girl and love doing my hair and experimenting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/anyone-who-knows-me-knows-that-i-am-really-into-hair-i-m-a-real-girly/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I know a lot of people that have had fake Twitters... actors and musicians that I know. It's sort of a problem. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-know-a-lot-of-people-that-have-had-fake-twitters-actors-and/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [For those of us who try to keep remembering, Try to do our better than our best. Think of all the children in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/for-those-of-us-who-try-to-keep-remembering-try-to-do-our-better-than/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I think my knowledge of music theory is rooted in jazz theory, and a lot of the writers of standards - Rodgers and Hart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-think-my-knowledge-of-music-theory-is-rooted-in-jazz-theory-and-a/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I finally figured out how to read origami directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-finally-figured-out-how-to-read-origami-directions/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [You do not need to look or be anorexic to be successful in Hollywood. The range of what's acceptable is a lot larger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/you-do-not-need-to-look-or-be-anorexic-to-be-successful-in-hollywood/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I'm not really that interested in pandering to an audience of people that are going to judge me before they hear me. If they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-m-not-really-that-interested-in-pandering-to-an-audience-of-people/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [There are a lot of actors who will sit here and talk to you about characters - 'He does this, and she's a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/there-are-a-lot-of-actors-who-will-sit-here-and-talk-to-you-about/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I still have in me the same awareness when I was 12 and chubby and a girl was spitting in my face. I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-still-have-in-me-the-same-awareness-when-i-was-12-and-chubby-and-a/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [Well, my piano's really beautiful. I actually have two pianos. I have a Yamaha upright from the '60s that's blond, wood, and black, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/well-my-piano-s-really-beautiful-i-actually-have-two-pianos-i-have-a/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [I always wanted to be normal. I tried really hard, but it's like I try so hard and then people still say I'm offbeat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-always-wanted-to-be-normal-i-tried-really-hard-but-it-s-like-i-try/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [Yeah, well, we were looking for something sort of anonymous. It suggests what it is, but I like that it's modest. I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/yeah-well-we-were-looking-for-something-sort-of-anonymous-it-suggests/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [You go to something like the Golden Globes, and it's the most glamorous place you could ever be, but then you go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/you-go-to-something-like-the-golden-globes-and-it-s-the-most/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [The red-carpet thing of premieres and parties is probably my least favourite part of my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/the-red-carpet-thing-of-premieres-and-parties-is-probably-my-least/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/being-tender-and-open-is-beautiful-as-a-woman-i-feel-continually-shhh/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

[Explore all 282 Zooey Deschanel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

## More Environment quotes

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [They paved paradise and put up a parkin lot With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot Don't it always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/they-paved-paradise-and-put-up-a-parkin-lot-with-a-pink-hotel-a/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Daily life is both the subject and environment of the work I am making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/daily-life-is-both-the-subject-and-environment-of-the-work-i-am-making/)

[Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/)

> [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/)

[Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/)

> [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/)

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

> [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/)

[Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/)

> [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/)

[Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/)

> [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/)

[Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/)

> [Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/of-course-learning-is-strengthened-and-solidified-when-it-occurs-in-a/)

[Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/)

[Browse all 8,669 Environment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't thrive in a word-perfect environment.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zooey Deschanel"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environment/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Environment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environment/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/zooey-deschanel-1154_environment_i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environ_656463.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't thrive in a word-perfect environment.” — Zooey Deschanel",
                "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": "Zooey Deschanel",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't thrive in a word-perfect...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environment/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-don-t-thrive-in-a-word-perfect-environment/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
