If Practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, then why practice?

Answer 1

Excellent question...

perfect : adj (1 ) complete in all respects; flawless (2) excellent, as in skill or quality (3) completely accurate (4) sheer; utter (5.) expressing a state or action completed at the time of speaking
vt. (1 ) to complete (2) to make perfect or nearly perfect

If you are thinking the word "perfect" as an absolute ...than it can be applied to elements of a pure form...

the word "perfect" in the context of this saying ."Practice makes perfect"..you are not dealing with things of a pure nature ...it is referring to a task or activity ...if you look at the definition of the word above you will see ....the word "complete " used through out...by these definitions.....anything that is complete could be viewed as "perfect" ......

perfection is also suggestive .....like you said nobody is perfect ...so ,how you make a determination of what your best is ..is by doing whatever it is over and over...until no more improvements can be seen or made........ at this point you are the closest to perfection as you can achieve.......

Oh well, this saying maybe stupid...but I said this to myself over and over for many years and will probably tell myself this for many more years to come..., I am an artist, and all I do know is... the more you work at something the better you will become at whatever it is you do......(experience) ..

(I hope this answer wasn't confusing...I have an infected wisdom tooth...and the doc gave me wonderful painkillers today..but I believe they maybe making me a tad bit loopy.... : / )

Answer 2

You are right to say 'nobody is perfect' but for the first part, that is, 'practice makes perfect' definitely refers to the ultimate action of practice. In other words, the more one practices, he/she will achieve higher qulaity of perfection.

Answer 3

You need not to practice. Just have it in your genes and enjoy!

It is a life twister. It is a catch 22. Perfect is a comparative word. When no body is perfect who can define perfect?

Perfection is a state of mind. It is a state of wisdom. It is a state of knowledge. It has to be acquired. So people work hard to achieve that.

I understand that you must be trying hard to achieve perfection but other keep telling negative which your mind may not accept easily. One need to acquire terrific directional wisdom to come close to such life situations.

The question raised by you is simple but meanings are complex. We need to write a book to come close to the answer.

Answer 4

when you say practice it concerns about a certain act,meaning performance perse,and nobodys perfect means that this nobody is a person not an action word,it is the one who practice the act to be performed perfectly,therefore practice is still necessary to perfect the practice this nobody is practicing making it perfect.

Answer 5

So you can get as close to perfection as possible. You can be perfect at some things just not everything.

Answer 6

Practice DOESN'T make perfect. Practice just makes better.

Whoever invented that saying, must have been a perfectionist.

Thanks for asking the question and pointing out the flaw!!

Answer 7

good question. hmm..

I guess we were always asked to put effort in everything we do and eventually we will come to a stage that the things we have been doing is sumthing we already know at the tip of our finger.

But sometimes, we can only plan and put efforts on it and the rest is set on by God.

Answer 8

It means that people are not practicing enough or not practicing correctly.

Answer 9

good question.