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About this quote

What does it mean?
Perfection in work is achieved when any addition or subtraction would diminish it.
In plain terms
A perfect work needs nothing added or removed.
What can you take from it?
Aim for essential simplicity.

Where it applies

  • writing
  • design
  • problem solving

Putting it to work

  • edit ruthlessly
  • simplify work

Questions to consider

  • Is your work done?
  • What can be removed?

Another view

Perfection is subjective and hard to define.

More from Joseph Joubert

  1. A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.

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  2. All are born to observe order, but few are born to establish it.

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  3. All beings come from little, and little is needed for them to come to nothing.

    Permalink to quote #4

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