An impossible standard
Meaning
A level of achievement or expectation that is unreachable or unmeetable for practical reasons.
Origin
The concept of a 'standard' itself dates back to ancient military banners, flags that served as rallying points and literal benchmarks against which soldiers measured their position and loyalty. Over centuries, this concrete image of a fixed measure transformed, metaphorically evolving to represent a level of quality, an expectation, or an ideal. Yet, with every benchmark set, humanity eventually encountered a ceiling—a goal so high, a demand so absolute, that it became clear it could never truly be reached. Thus, the phrase 'an impossible standard' emerged not from a single historical event, but from the collective human experience of striving for perfection only to encounter the inherent limits of reality, becoming a concise and potent way to critique unattainable expectations. It encapsulates the very human struggle between aspiration and the often-harsh truths of what is truly achievable.
Examples
- Demanding perfection from every employee on every task sets an impossible standard that will only lead to burnout.
- Trying to always be the best at everything is an impossible standard to maintain, and it's okay to accept less than perfection sometimes.