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The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection. George Orwell, In Front of Your Nose
I want more from David Beckham; I want him to improve on perfection. Kevin Keegan
We continue to shape our personality all our life. If we knew ourselves perfectly, we should die. Albert Camus
Civilization will not attain to its perfection until the last stone from the last church falls on the last priest. Emile Zola
Scientists should never claim something is absolutely truth. You should never claim perfect or total or 100% because you never ever get there. Beautiful Minds: Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, BBC 2010
So what exactly is the end of perfection? Or do you grab it? There is no end. Nadia Comeneci
And no gymnast has achieved that perfection more than Romania’s Nadia Comaneci. In the 1976 Olympics she became the first girl to score a perfect 10. She won 5 Olympic golds, and is the only woman to have won 3 European Championships. Sporting Greats: Nadia Comaneci, Sky Sports 2012
At 14 she would go to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. ibid.
I have no faith in human perfectibility. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active – not more happy – nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe
An artist’s only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else’s. J D Salinger, Franny and Zooey
The supreme human purpose is the perfection of man. This must come first, and when this end has been achieved all good things will inevitably follow. Manly Palmer Hall, The Secret Destiny of America p51
Perfectionistic attitudes set in motion a vicious cycle. First, perfectionists set unreachable goals. Second, they fail to meet these goals because the goals were impossible to begin with. Failure to reach them was thus inevitable. Third, the constant pressure to achieve perfection and the inevitable chronic failure reduce productivity and effectiveness. Fourth, this cycle leads perfectionists to be self-critical and self-blaming which results in lower self-esteem. It may also lead to anxiety and depression. University of Illinois Counseling Center, website advice to students
The new research focuses on a familiar type, perfectionists, who panic or blow a fuse when things don’t turn out just so. The findings not only confirm that such purists are often at risk for mental distress – as Freud, Alfred Adler and countless exasperated parents have long predicted – but also suggest that perfectionism is a valuable lens through which to understand a variety of seemingly unrelated mental difficulties, from depression to compulsive behavior to addiction.
Some researchers divide perfectionists into three types, based on answers to standardized questionnaires: Self-oriented strivers who struggle to live up to their high standards and appear to be at risk of self-critical depression; outwardly focused zealots who expect perfection from others, often ruining relationships; and those desperate to live up to an ideal they’re convinced others expect of them, a risk factor for suicidal thinking and eating disorders. Benedict Carey, board post 4th December 2007, ‘Unhappy? Self-Critical? Maybe You’re Just a Perfectionist’ citing The New York Times
Humans are imperfect. That’s one of the reasons that classical and jazz are in trouble. We’re on the quest for the perfect performance and every note has to be right. Man, every note is not right in life. Branford Marsalis
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have it on very good authority that the quest for perfection our society demands can leave the individual gasping for breath at every turn. From early childhood many have felt they were expected to be perfect, but didn’t feel they had the right to express their true feelings to those around them. Feelings of guilt, of self-revulsion, and low personal esteem creating in them a compulsion to dissolve like a Disprin and disappear. Diana Princess of Wales, televised address
All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the base of our splendid failure to do the impossible. William Faulkner
It is the witness still of excellency
To put a strange face on his own perfection. William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing II iii 45-46, Don Pedro to Balthesar
Hey, progress not perfection. The Equalizer 2014 starring Denzel Washington & Chloe Grace Moretz Marton Csokas & Melissa Leo & Bill Pullman & John Skourtis & Haley Bennett & David Harbur & Vladimir Kulich & David Meunier & Alex Veadov & James Wilcox et al, director Antoine Fuqua
We must leave exactly on time … From now on everything must function to perfection. Benito Mussolini, to station-master
Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see,
Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er shall be. Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, 1711
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Job 22:3
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Psalms 18:30-32
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Matthew 19:21
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:1
Strengths include but are not limited to the way that I set out each day to seek perfection, achieve perfection and maintain perfection. The Office Values – Microsoft UK Training with David Brent, David, Youtube 2007
Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it. Salvador Dali
Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time. Voltaire
Actually, I can’t imagine anything more tedious than a perfect person, especially if it was someone who also demanded perfection from me. Hugh Mackay
That is the true perfection of man to find out his imperfections. Augustine of Hippo
Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected. Jonathan Edwards