We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. Recognition of difference between striving for objective -- and perfection.

We shall look for progress, not for perfection.

We shall need to raise our eyes toward perfection, and be ready to walk in that direction.

Therefore, it seems plain that few of us can quickly or easily become ready to aim at spiritual and moral perfection; we want to settle for only as much perfection as will get us by in life, according, of course, to our various and sundry ideas of what will get us by.

Sure, I'll head toward perfection, but I'm certainly not going to hurry any.

We are all perfectionists who, failing perfection, have gone to the other extreme and settled for the bottle and the blackout.

When they drive us blindly, or we willfully demand that they supply us with more satisfactions or pleasures than are possible or due us, that is the point at which we depart from the degree of perfection that God wishes for us here on earth.

Therefore, it seems plain that few of us can quickly or easily become ready to aim at spiritual and moral perfection; we want to settle for only as much perfection as will get us by in life, according, of course, to our various and sundry ideas of what will get us by.

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)