Imperfection Quotes

No man is free from the terrible burdens of historic events; no nation is composed of angels, free from human frailty. The relevant question is not – is this people perfect? But, what are they doing about the imperfection? In what direction are they moving – and how fast?

This ignorance of history… rampant utopianism. Without the standard of the past, expectations and possibilities are unlimited. The standard then becomes not what is reasonably possible given humanity’s flaws, but absolute perfection. Measured against those sorts of expectations, then of course America falls short, as does every other civilization that has ever existed. Yet with […]

The finest works of art are precious, among other reasons, because they make it possible for us to know, if only imperfectly and for a little while, what it actually feels like to think subtly and feel nobly.

The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none. Recognizing our limitations and imperfections is the first requisite of progress. Those who believe they have arrived believe they have nowhere to go.

I’m not suggesting that the play is without fault; all my plays are imperfect, I’m rather happy to say – it leaves me something to do.

This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.