Steinbeck isn't simply saying that perfectionism is bad—rather, he's identifying a peculiar trap where the pursuit of flawlessness actually *prevents* goodness from taking root. Perfection demands an exhausting internal audit of every choice, while goodness thrives in action, imperfection, and forgiveness. When a parent stops waiting until they're the "perfect" version of themselves before showing up for their child, or a writer publishes work they know is flawed but honest, they often discover they've done something far more valuable than they would have achieved through endless refinement. The permission slip Steinbeck offers isn't an excuse to be careless—it's an invitation to do real work in an imperfect world.