There's an old saying: 'No piece of writing is ever finished, it's just abandoned.' But my own rule is: No piece of work is done until you want to kill everyone involved in the publishing process, especially yourself.
May I never be complete. May I never be content. May I never be perfect.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the idea that striving for more and embracing imperfection keeps life dynamic and meaningful.
In this quote, Chuck Palahniuk emphasizes the importance of continuous growth and the pursuit of knowledge and experience. By rejecting the notions of completeness, contentment, and perfection, he suggests that true fulfillment lies in the journey of self-improvement and the acceptance of life's inherent flaws. This perspective encourages individuals to embrace challenges and uncertainties, fostering a mindset that values evolution over stagnation.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech, you might use this quote to inspire people to embrace their flaws and keep striving for their goals.
More from Chuck Palahniuk
All quotes βGriping isn't the same as creating something. Rebelling isn't rebuilding. Ridiculing isn't replacing. We've taken the world apart but we have no idea what to do with the pieces.
If we can forgive whatβs been done to us... If we can forgive what weβve done to others... If we can leave all of our stories behind. Our being villains or victims. Only then can we maybe rescue the world.
We're all trapped. It's always 1734. All of us, we're stuck in the same time capsule, the same as those television shows where the same people are marooned on the same desert island for thirty seasons and never age or escape. They just wear more makeup. In a creepy way, those shows are maybe too authentic.
One thing I really envy about my friends who have kids is that as their children develop, they're able to revisit their own developmental stages and recognise themselves and undo a lot of things they decided.
If you knew that your life was merely a phase or short, short segment of your entire existence, how would you live? Knowing nothing 'real' was at risk, what would you do? You'd live a gigantic, bold, fun, dazzling life. You know you would. That's what the ghosts want us to do - all the exciting things they no longer can.
Similar quotes
If you associate enough with older people who do enjoy their lives, who are not stored away in any golden ghettos, you will gain a sense of continuity and of the possibility for a full life.
The whole point is to discipline the mind.
You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look "seven times," that is, meditate often upon them, and you will see their increasing glory, like that increasing cloud (1 Kings 18:44).
Never cease doubting. When the doubts stop it is because you have stopped journeying.
If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only their conduct we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.
The only way to live in the midst of inharmonious influences is to strengthen the will power and endure all things, _x000D_ yet keeping fineness of character and nobility of manner together with an everlasting heart full of love.