Progress, Not Perfection Quotes To Inspire Action
This collection of quotes all encourage the mindset of ‘progress, not perfection‘.
Choosing to pursue progress over perfectionism is the cornerstone of a powerful and enriching mindset.
It allows us to take action and create momentum, rather than be paralyzed by perfectionism.
We get more done, we build self-discipline and motivation and we get closer to our goals and desires.
By choosing progress, we let go of the unreachable ideals of perfectionism, and instead set achievable, realistic goals that guide us toward success.
The following quotes all inspire and encourage this mindset and philosophy.
Quotes To Encourage Progress, Not Perfection
This collection of thought-provoking words encourages us to replace the anxiety of perfectionism with the satisfaction of progress. It urges us to act, to strive, and to constantly evolve, moving us closer to our aspirations:
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
“Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.” – Brené Brown
“Strive for progress, not perfection.” – Unknown
“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.” – Epictetus
“The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” – Unknown
“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dali
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now.” – Mark Victor Hansen
“Perfection has to do with the end product, but excellence has to do with the process.” – Jerry Moran
“Aim for progress, not perfection. Nobody learns to walk without falling.” – Unknown
“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.” – Max DePree
“You may not be there yet, but you’re closer than you were yesterday.” – Unknown
Embrace Progress Over Perfection
“The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.” – Helmut Schmidt
“Perfect is the enemy of good.” – Voltaire
“It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you implement that effort into your life, every single day, that’s where transformation happens. That’s how change occurs. Keep going. Remember why you started.” – Unknown
“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection.” – Kim Collins
“Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be our best. Perfection is not about healthy achievement and growth.” – Brené Brown
“Perfectionism is the enemy of happiness. Embrace being perfectly imperfect. Learn from your mistakes and forgive yourself, you’ll be happier. We make mistakes because we are imperfect. Learn from your mistakes, forgive yourself, and keep moving forward.” – Roy T. Bennett
“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.” – Anne Wilson Schaef
Progress Not Perfectionism Quotes
“Perfectionism is a dangerous state of mind in an imperfect world.” – Robert Hillyer
“Perfectionism is just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
“The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real estate, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love, and faith.” – Bertrand Russell
“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.” – Michael Law
“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” – Anna Quindlen
“Done is better than perfect.” – Sheryl Sandberg
Quotes About Taking Action Over Perfectionism
“Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso
“An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.” – Steve Maraboli
“Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.” – Khalil Gibran
“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.” – Tony Robbins
“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.” – Peter Marshall
“The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Kingsleigh
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” – William Butler Yeats
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali
Embracing the idea of ‘progress, not perfectionism’ is a transformative shift we can all benefit from in our lives.
Remember, perfection is an unattainable horizon, but every step we take in its pursuit gets us closer to excellence.
It’s in the small, daily efforts, the continuous learning from our mistakes, and the relentless drive to improve that we truly grow.
For more inspirational quotes about progress and taking action, check out:
