"Perfectionism becomes a badge of honor with you playing the part of the suffering hero"
- David D. Burns
About this Quote
In this quote, author David D. Burns is highlighting the unfavorable effects of perfectionism. He recommends that for some individuals, perfectionism is not just a personality type, but rather a badge of honor that they use happily. These individuals see themselves as the "suffering hero" who is constantly pursuing perfection, even at the expense of their own well-being. They might view their perfectionism as a worthy pursuit, but in truth, it can result in feelings of inadequacy, stress, and burnout. Burns is warning versus the glorification of perfectionism and motivates people to discover a much healthier balance in their pursuit of quality.
"If you seek Hamilton's monument, look around. You are living in it. We honor Jefferson, but live in Hamilton's country, a mighty industrial nation with a strong central government"