Quotes about perfection (2754 quotes, page 28)

“I like a chapter to have design of tone, as well as of form. A chapter should be a perfect cell in the whole book and should be almost able to stand alone. If this is done then the breaks we call chapters are not arbitrary but rather articulations which allow the free movement of the story.”

John Steinbeck book Journal of a Novel

March 7, 1951
Journal of a Novel (1969)

Books

“My fascination is with relationships at their most microcosmic. The more epic, the more uninteresting the film-making becomes. It becomes about getting the perfect crane shot.”

Lynn Shelton (1965–2020) American film director, screenwriter, film editor, actress and film producer (1965-2020)

Journalist Tim Teeman's Blog - Lynn Shelton: Hannah, her sister and their lover - 19 June 2012 https://www.timteeman.com/2012/06/19/lynn-shelton-hannah-her-sister-and-their-lover/ - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210727184304/https://www.timteeman.com/2012/06/19/lynn-shelton-hannah-her-sister-and-their-lover/

“The perfect couple is the one which the more one is faraway from the other, the more closer they feel.”

Menotti Lerro (1980) Italian poet

Donna Giovanna, Act III, scene iv.
Theater Quotes

Feeling

“Time might fly
girls may cry
lights may die
but the skies don't lie
It'll all make perfect sense
if you follow me
Come follow me now”

Example (musician) (1982) English rapper and singer

"Skies Don't Lie" (song)
("Skies Don't Lie" on YouTube (with lyrics)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJToHBj8Eb4
Studio albums, Playing in the Shadows (2011)

Girl , Light , Lie , Cry

“God had given men reason, by which they could find out things for themselves, but He had given animals knowledge which did not depend on reason, and which was much more prompt and perfect in its way, and by which they had often saved the lives of men.”

Anna Sewell book Black Beauty

Source: Black Beauty (1877), Ch. XII, p. 61

God , Dependency , Knowledge , Animals

“If no one is perfect in this world, then it would be foolish of you to confess your sins to anyone. Unless you feel they must be perfect in the first place!”

Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author

World , Feeling

“Since we believe that there is no one who is perfect, we can easily claim that no one is innocent either. It's just a matter of time.”

Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author

Time

“Nothing conduces so emphatically to the harmony of sounds as perfect classical piano play.”

Olga Rotari (1989) Moldovan classical pianist and chamber musician

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTrlcR4KyA Youtube

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul of Tarsus book Epistle to the Romans

Romans 12:2
Epistle to the Romans

God , World

“What the virtues are to existential perfection, truths are to intellectual perfection; virtue is essentially simplicity, inward beauty, generosity, whereas truth, for its part, lies entirely in the discernment between the Real and the illusory or between the Absolute and the contingent.”

Frithjof Schuon book The Transfiguration of Man

[2005, The Transfiguration of Man, World Wisdom, 72, 978-0-94153219-8]
Spiritual life, Truth

Beauty , Truth , Parting

“If there can be agreement that certain rights are essential to reduce the chances of perfect injustice, that constitutes the beginning of a solid theory of rights.”

Alan M. Dershowitz (1938) American lawyer, author

Source: Shouting Fire: Civil liberties in a Turbulent Age (2002), p. 34

Chance

“It is not even impossible to imagine that the effects of an atomic war fought with greatly perfected weapons and pushed by the utmost determination will endanger the survival of man.”

Edward Teller (1908–2003) Hungarian-American nuclear physicist

How Dangerous Are Atomic Weapons?, 1947

Imagination , War

“A man's character is formed by the Odes, developed by the Rites and perfected by music.”

Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher

Quoted from Will Durant, Our Oriental Heritage.
The Analects, Chapter I, Chapter VIII

Music

“Whether in physics and mathematics or in the humanities, when something really finally works, it has a certain perfection to it, a feeling of inevitability, like it was so completely obvious all along, and it couldn't be any other way.”

Nima Arkani-Hamed (1972) American-Canadian physicist

[#qotd #quote of the day #IASIdeas, twitter.com, 12 July 2018, https://twitter.com/the_ias/status/1017439929985634304?lang=en] (9:05 AM)

Mathematics , Way , Feeling

“I could be as jittery as you if I wanted to. But I've studied history and literature. And architecture, and a lot of things. Just to balance this psycho work. There’s a lot more perfection in a Doric column than in you.”

Henry Kuttner (1915–1958) American author

Source: Short fiction, The Fairy Chessmen (1946), Chapter 4 (p. 29)

Study , History , Literature

“Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it.”

Thomas Aquinas book Summa Theologica

I, q. 1, art. 8, ad 2
Summa Theologica (1265–1274)

Nature

“We can assume that a perfect world IS the ultimate goal for mankind and the purpose of God, for this has been promised to us in all religions.”

Vera Stanley Alder (1898–1984) British artist

Source: Humanity Comes of Age, A study of Individual and World Fulfillment (1950), Chapter II Planning a Model World

God , Religion , World

“For me, success is not only defined by what others deem you as, but also who you consider yourself to be. I don’t think I received a perfect score on any exam yet, and it’s also possible that I’ll never achieve that, but I’ll still feel satisfied at the end.”

Liu Wen (model) (1988) Chinese model

Source: "Liu Wen opens up about fame, responsibility and finding meaning in her career" in Vogue https://vogue.sg/liu-wen-cover-vogue-singapore-leslie-zhang/ (1 March 2021)

Success , Thinking , Feeling

“Perfect happiness can consist in nothing else than the vision of the Divine Essence.”

Thomas Aquinas book Summa Theologica

Source: Summa Theologica (1265–1274), I–II, q. 3, art. 8 co

Happiness

“Love unifies by individuating and individuates by unifying. At what moment do lovers come into the most perfect possession of themselves as individuals if not when they are most lost in each other? Self, is given up, but "he who loses his self will find it."”

Peter Kreeft (1937) American philosopher

Matthew 16:25
Source: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven … But Never Dreamed of Asking (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990), p. 74

Lovers , Love

“To the oft-repeated question "If Jesus resurrected His physical body why is He not visible here among us?" we would say that Jesus overcame the sins that caused our original fall from the perfect body of the Adamic man to the diseased and dying body in which the race is now existing.”

Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) American mystic

Source: Mysteries Of John (1946)

Disease , Question

“There can be no freedom if one man or one group of men... is assumed... inherently perfect or perfectible. Its claim to perfection or perfectibility is a claim to absolute rule.”

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) American business consultant

Source: 1930s- 1950s, The Future of Industrial Man (1942), p. 122

Freedom , Men

“Don't be afraid of perfection. You will never attain it!”

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) Spanish artist

Source: Quotes of Salvador Dali, 1961 - 1970, Diary of a Genius (1964), p. 44

“There is space for you in this world and the world is waiting for you to PERFECT yourself and PRESENT yourself.”

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (1978) Nigerian actress and singer

https://naijagists.com/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-wisdom-quotes-top-20-motivational-quotes-sayings-omosexy/ Omotola Jalade Ekehinde speaking on Success.

Waiting , World

“Film is often the perfect vehicle to provide education about social issues and to inspire social and political change.”

Stephanie Okereke Linus (1982) Nigerian Actress and singer

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/exclusive-interview-with-_37_b_11591236 During an interview (December 6 2017)

Education , Change

“Francis and I are in perfect accord. He wants Milan and so do I.”

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) Holy Roman Emperor

Source: As quoted in "The Story of Civilization: The Renaissance; a history of civilization in Italy from 1304-1576 A.D", Will Durant and Ariel Durant

“He's a computer. Perfect memory, rigid logic, no judgment. I forgot. I talked to him like a human being, and now—”

Larry Niven book A World Out of Time

Source: A World Out of Time (1976), Chapter 2 Don Juan, Section 4 (p. 59)

Memory

“There are also blind spots in both cultures... there is no perfect culture. As we say, no one has the complete picture. We need each other to see more facets of who God really is and his call to us.”

Murray Chatlain (1963) Roman Catholic archbishop

Source: Cultural diversity: a richness for the Church http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2013/12/21/cultural_diversity_a_richness_for_the_church_/en1-757749 (21 December 2013)

God

“It’s so idealized, like, your life must be perfect if you can hold a balance posture on the beach. But the actual practice of yoga isn’t about that at all. The image isn’t important. The practice is.”

Jessamyn Stanley (1987) American yoga teacher and author

Source: Finding a More Inclusive Vision of Fitness in Our Feeds, Jenna Wortham, July 6, 2017, 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/magazine/finding-a-more-inclusive-vision-of-fitness-in-our-feeds.html,

Life

“I arrived in France, and found myself up against the legend which was current in left-wing Parisian salons: the Jews had always lived in perfect harmony with the Arabs. I was almost congratulated for having been born in such a land where racial discrimination and xenophobia were unknown. It made me laugh.”

Albert Memmi (1920) French writer

Source: "Who is an Arab Jew?" (1975)

“There's perfect harmony
In the rising and the falling of the sea.
And as we sail along,
I never fail to be astounded by
The things we'll do for promises
And a song.”

Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010) American singer

"All the Fools Sailed Away" on Dream Evil (1987)
Lyrics

Sea

“Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings, and potentates, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest to all, and that ye may be perfect in Him.”

Polycarp Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians

Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians

Hate

“The world is a perfect garden for your seeds.”

- Goa

World

“She is a mortal danger to all men. She is beautiful without knowing it, and possesses charms that she’s not even aware of. She is like a trap set by nature - a sweet perfumed rose in whose petals Cupid lurks in ambush! Anyone who has seen her smile has known perfection. She instills grace in every common thing and divinity in every careless gesture. Venus in her shell was never so lovely, and Diana in the forest never so graceful as my Lady when she strides through Paris!”

Edmond Rostand (1868–1918) French writer

Source: Cyrano de Bergerac

Nature , Love , Men , Beauty

“This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.”

Pema Chödron (1936) American philosopher

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (1997)

Teachers

“Recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?"”

Dilgo Khyentse (1910–1991) Bhutanese Buddhist Lama

Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones (1992)

Time , Help , Wisdom

“We are in fact now living in the conditions of a perfect storm and the moment of truth, that very storm and moment of truth that will ensure and protect our interests, and make it so that your lives are better, more comfortable, more stable, and more secure.”

Dmitry Peskov (1967) Russian politician

CNN Interview (March 2022)

Truth

“The very highest states—of awe and joy, wonder and love, meaning and creativity—emerge from this bittersweet nature of reality. We experience them not because life is perfect—but because it's not.”

Susan Cain book Bittersweet

Bittersweet, Chapter 4 at pp. 92-93

Nature , Joy , Reality , Love

“We like art forms that express our longing for union, and for a more perfect and beautiful world.”

Susan Cain book Bittersweet

Bittersweet, Chapter 2 at p. 36

Beauty , Art , World

“God bestows perfect security on His devotees and removes all sorts of fears. He transforms the sense of insecurity and fear into one of confidence and faith. He saves him from panic and despair.”

Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) Indian philosopher

Conquest of Fear (c-1960)

Despair , God , Confidence , Faith

“Do your best, don’t try to do perfection otherwise you won’t be able to have a life.”

Matshidiso Moeti Motswana physician, WHO Regional Director for Africa

https://www.afro.who.int/regional-director/biography

Life

“Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) 3rd President of the United States of America

We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favour towards us, that his Providence would not permit us to be called into this severe controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (1775); Jefferson composed the first draft of this document, but the final work was done by John Dickinson, working with his original draft. Full text online http://www.nationalcenter.org/1775DeclarationofArms.html
1770s

“Before Christ comes, it is useless to expect to see a perfect Church.”

J.C. Ryle (1816–1900) Anglican bishop

Source: Practical Religion (1878), Ch. XX: "The Great Separation", p. 449

Christ

“When most people think of nature, they want to look for perfection and for symmetry and balance, ... But if you really pay attention you are going to see that what actually makes nature tick are the imbalances, the imperfections, the asymmetries.”

Marcelo Gleiser (1959) Brazilian physicist

" Physicist Marcelo Gleiser Asks the Big Questions" https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2011/08/physicist-marcelo-gleiser-asks-big-questions, dartmouth.edu (August 26, 2011)

People , Nature , Thinking

“I feel like every role you take, there's a part of you that obviously feels like you can do it. I don't know if perfect is the right word because I don't believe in perfection. I don't think it exists.”

Mila Kunis (1983) American actress

"Mila Kunis Interview BLACK SWAN" in Collider https://collider.com/mila-kunis-interview-black-swan/ (23 November 20100

Thinking , Feeling , Parting

“Sadly, in any industry and in any work-related environment, females always strive to achieve a certain amount of perfection, whether that be skinny or pretty. It's a constant, in our society.”

Mila Kunis (1983) American actress

"Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis dish Black Swan" in sheKnows https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/820805/natalie-portman-and-mila-kunis-dish-black-swan/2/ (30 November 2010)

“The desire to be perfect. Women innately have this weird thing where they try to have a perfect persona—to look perfect, be perfect, act perfect, have their kids look a certain way. Women put so much pressure on themselves.”

Mila Kunis (1983) American actress

"Mila Kunis on Life With Ashton and Making Babies: “There’s Nothing We Don’t Know About Each Other"" in Glamour https://www.glamour.com/story/mila-kunis-on-life-with-ashton-and-making-babies (6 July 2016)

Women , Way

“We will not find happiness in the things we think are ideal and which we think are perfect. Because there is not a single perfection in human life. There are only imperfections. Those who can feel happiness, are those who find beauty in their own imperfections and in others. Happy people are people who are grateful for all their shortcomings”

Titon Rahmawan

#happiness

Beauty , Happiness , People , Thinking

“Time has always been a good ally in understanding who we had by our side: perfect strangers.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Il tempo è sempre stato un buon alleato per capire chi avevamo al nostro fianco: perfetti sconosciuti.
Source: prevale.net

Time , Understanding

“Our destiny is not to be perfect or to find that perfection in others. Our destiny is to accept our flaws and imperfections and strive to become a better person.”

Titon Rahmawan

Personality

“Whatever you want to create: imagine it. Realize it. Perfect it. Define it.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Qualsiasi cosa tu voglia creare: immaginala. Realizzala. Perfezionala. Definiscila.
Source: prevale.net

Imagination

“Know that a marriage that can only demand perfection will never be happy. Because a happy marriage is not about the fulfillment of what you want, but about what you can give to make your partner happy.”

Titon Rahmawan

Marriage , Happiness

“Rebuild your family the way you want: not perfect, but free, true. Your children will look at you with respect, not because you were flawless, but because you stayed. Even when you are afraid. Even when no one will believe you. Even when your legs will shake.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Ricostruite la vostra famiglia come volete voi: non perfetta, ma libera, vera. I vostri figli vi guarderanno con rispetto, non perché sarete stati impeccabili, ma perché sarete rimasti. Anche quando avrete paura. Anche quando nessuno vi crederà. Anche quando vi tremeranno le gambe.
Original: prevale.net

Family , Children , Way

“The people to love are not perfect, they are true.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Le persone da amare non sono perfette, sono vere.
Source: prevale.net

Love , People

Quotes about perfection page 28

Quotes about perfection
page 28