Quote of the Day: Perfection on Every Level

 

“We held our nation’s fallen heroes close to our hearts in everything we did. From the care of our uniforms to the precision of our marching to the grooming of our horses, it was our sacred duty to honor the fallen in ways big and small. Our standard was simple: perfection on every level. A funeral in Arlington is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the family. And for us, service in Arlington National Cemetery was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege.” — Tom Cotton, Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery

Ordinarily, I don’t encourage people to strive for perfection; those who do are generally disappointed because, in everyday life, it is nearly impossible to achieve. Also, perfectionists are usually unhappy because they are preoccupied with demanding perfection of themselves and everyone else. It’s not a pretty picture.

But in his book, Tom Cotton convinced me that perfection was a goal worth striving for, on every level, if a person served on The Old Guard, as he did. There must be times, unseen by anyone else, where members of The Old Guard make mistakes, but they carry on. In the heat of vicious summer weather, a member might faint, and without missing a beat, a colleague would pick him up and carry him off—perfectly.

I think that what makes the members of the Old Guard so successful is their heartfelt dedication to serve fallen members and their families, the understanding that every funeral is important and unique, that performing perfectly is a way to pay tribute to all of them. Their goal of perfection isn’t a self-centered one, but a selfless one. I honor their dedication to carry out this sacred duty, serving the living and the fallen.

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  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I know of what I speak. I’m a recovering perfectionist. I finally realized that there was a difference between excellence (which is achievable), and perfection (which almost always is not). I’m happy in my recovery, and so is everyone around me!

    • #1
  2. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    There is that old saw:  Perfection is impossible, but when you strive for perfection, you achieve excellence.

    Another saying is “Perfection is the enemy of good enough.”

    Different meanings and contexts to be sure . . .

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Yes, all valuable, @stad. I especially like that perfection is the enemy of the good. There are so many ways we avoid doing something because we can’t do it perfectly, and everyone misses out.

    • #3
  4. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Tom Cotton spoke about this at Hillsdale on April 9th this year and his excellent speech is excerpted in  the most recent issue of Imprimis. It’s a must read.

    • #4
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Tom Cotton spoke about this at Hillsdale on April 9th this year and his excellent speech is excerpted in the most recent issue of Imprimis. It’s a must read.

    Thanks. I saw it; he basically drew it from the book. I hope everyone knows that Imprimis is free, and it’s excellent. You can get it online or in the mail. Thanks, WC

    • #5
  6. She Member
    She
    @She

    Lovely, Susan.  The quote, and your commentary, remind me of the medieval craftsmen (and a few since) who always worked their glorious projects “in the round,” including as much detail and perfection on the back or in the crevices of the thing, as they did on the front or the most visible parts, even if no-one was going to be able to view it that way once is was placed in position, because  “the Lord would be able to see it, even if no man could.”

    • #6
  7. fidelio102 Inactive
    fidelio102
    @fidelio102

    Susan Quinn: Ordinarily I don’t encourage people to strive for perfection; those who do are generally disappointed, because in everyday life, it is nearly impossible to achieve. Also, perfectionists are usually unhappy because they are preoccupied with demanding perfection of themselves and everyone else. It’s not a pretty picture.

    I think a distinction should be made between “striving for perfection” and “perfectionist”.  The perfection achieved by the latter is often delusional and in any case what he/she perceives as perfection.  

    Excellence, as @stad observes, is a by-product of striving for perfection.

    • #7
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    She (View Comment):

    Lovely, Susan. The quote, and your commentary, remind me of the medieval craftsmen (and a few since) who always worked their glorious projects “in the round,” including as much detail and perfection on the back or in the crevices of the thing, as they did on the front or the most visible parts, even if no-one was going to be able to view it that way once is was placed in position, because “the Lord would be able to see it, even if no man could.”

    It’s just a small example related to your comment, @she. We had a potter make us a set of dishes, with a unique, contemporary pattern. They were especially beautiful because the pattern carried to the underside of all the dishes, and the painting carried all around the soup bowls. We still love to use them, although I can’t talk Jerry into using them for every day. Working on it . . .

    • #8
  9. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    fidelio102 (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn: Ordinarily I don’t encourage people to strive for perfection; those who do are generally disappointed, because in everyday life, it is nearly impossible to achieve. Also, perfectionists are usually unhappy because they are preoccupied with demanding perfection of themselves and everyone else. It’s not a pretty picture.

    I think a distinction should be made between “striving for perfection” and “perfectionist”. The perfection achieved by the latter is often delusional and in any case what he/she perceives as perfection.

    Excellence, as @stad observes, is a by-product of striving for perfection.

    An interesting way to look at the issue, @fidelio102. I especially like the sentence I put in bold; what is perfection, after all? Thanks!

    • #9
  10. She Member
    She
    @She

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    Lovely, Susan. The quote, and your commentary, remind me of the medieval craftsmen (and a few since) who always worked their glorious projects “in the round,” including as much detail and perfection on the back or in the crevices of the thing, as they did on the front or the most visible parts, even if no-one was going to be able to view it that way once is was placed in position, because “the Lord would be able to see it, even if no man could.”

    It’s just a small example related to your comment, @she. We had a potter make us a set of dishes, with a unique, contemporary pattern. They were especially beautiful because the pattern carried to the underside of all the dishes, and the painting carried all around the soup bowls. We still love to use them, although I can’t talk Jerry into using them for every day. Working on it . . .

    I’m a believer in using “stuff” that was given as gifts or with love.  My benchmark (in a negative sense) was my Granny, who squirreled away everything she’d been given, as “too nice to use,” or “too precious to expose to the possibility of breakage or destruction.”

    When she died, she had several plastic bags full of cotton pajamas that we’d (grandchildren) given her over the years, as well as dozens of tea towels and Lord knows what else, stashed away.

    We got rid of the (mouse-eaten) pajamas.

    I’m working my way through the tea towels.

    And I think of Granny often when I look at them.

    (I think that’s the part she missed.  Umm, yeah.  I might spoil it or break it.  But the pleasure, and the thoughts of granny,  I’ll have had from its use in the meantime more than makes up for it).

    • #10
  11. fidelio102 Inactive
    fidelio102
    @fidelio102

    “Talent hits a target no-one else can hit.  Genius hits a target no-one else can see.” –  Arthur Schopenhauer.

    • #11
  12. Vectorman Inactive
    Vectorman
    @Vectorman

    fidelio102 (View Comment):

    “Talent hits a target no-one else can hit. Genius hits a target no-one else can see.” – Arthur Schopenhauer.

    A great quote – how about using this for a Quote of the Day in June?  We welcome others by including tips for finding great quotes, so choose your favorite quote and sign up today!

    • #12
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