Today's Quote: Unknown

This is the most complex provenance of any quote I've come across thus far: Louis Marquis de Fontanes, reportedly addressing Napoleon, was quoted by Ben Franklin. Ralph Waldo Emerson attributed the quote to Napoleon. I think it is safer to attribute it to "Unknown." --DM

Text:
Sire, the desire of perfection is the worst disease that ever afflicted the human mind.
~ Unknown

"Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul" by Laurent Dabos (circa 1803).

Today's Quote: Marie Curie

Text:
We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing must be obtained.
~ Marie Curie

Today's Quote: Buddha

Text:
There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
~ Buddha

Today's Quote: Tecumseh

Text:
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
~ Tecumseh

Today's Quote: Sienna Miller

Text:
The big thing I've discovered, the big secret, is that it's all about how happy you are. It's the ultimate thing. People forget your flaws and imperfections if they see you're happy.
~ Sienna Miller

Today's Quote: Charles Kettering

Text:
...a certain amount of intelligent ignorance is essential to progress; for, if you know too much, you won't try the thing.
~ Charles Kettering

Perfectionism

Derek Thompson in The Agony of Perfectionism talks about worrying about "perfection" can keep you from being happy. There are too many choices. It is sort of like the grass being greener on the other side:

"The paradox of caring too much about having the perfect version of everything is that you wind up feel dissatisfied with all of it...

In short: The Internet doesn't have to make you miserable. But if you insist on comparing your choices and your life to every available alternative accessible through a Google search, it will.

...We don't know everything. We don't have everything. And that's okay."

Taylor Buckley also says:

Does anyone else get held back by their own perfectionism?

Do you find that you can’t adopt healthier ways of eating because you feel like you don’t have the time to go to the store, do all the planning, and make all the food?
Do you feel like you can’t start going to the gym until you have the perfect workout plan, clothes, body…?

So many times in our life we are held back by our own desire to have everything put together before we feel comfortable starting. In a way, that’s actually a really silly thought, the one that starts with, “I will do this when _____”. If we are always waiting until some magical when, then how will we ever actually start to do anything?

Can you tell when you are making good choices and good plans and when you are tripping yourself up? If you are feeling happy about your choices and actions, then keep doing what you're doing. If not, consider doing it differently. You can do it! Baby steps!

Today's Quote: Bill Clinton

Text:
The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.
~ Bill Clinton

Today's Quote: Proverbial Wisdom

Text:
Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.
~ Chinese proverb

Today's Quote: Misty Copeland

Text:
Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.
~ Misty Copeland

Today's Quote: Ben Okri

Text:
The fact of storytelling hints at a fundamental human unease, hints at human imperfection. Where there is perfection there is no story to tell.
~ Ben Okri

Today's Quote: Theodore Roosevelt

Text:
Believe you can and you're halfway there.
~ Theodore Roosevelt

Be Kind to My Mistakes

It's all right, darling, we can do this together
It's all right, darling, I can think of nothing better
I don't know you and you don't know me
It is this that brings us together
~Kate Bush

This song started going through my head today. Kate Bush with "Be Kind to My Mistakes":