perfect is the enemy of good
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English
Alternative forms
- better is the enemy of good
- the best is the enemy of the good
- the better is the enemy of the good
- the perfect is the enemy of the good
- perfection is the enemy of good
- perfect is the enemy of good enough
Etymology
Variant of the older the best is the enemy of the good, popularized by Voltaire in French as le mieux est l’ennemi du bien, itself a translation of the Italian proverb il meglio è nemico del bene.
Proverb
- Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
- Insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement through compromises.
Derived terms
See also
References
- ^ Voltaire (1772) “La Bégueule [The Prissy]”, in Contes en vers (in French): “Dans ses écrits un sage Italien / Dit que le mieux est l’ennemi du bien”
- ^ Voltaire (1764) “Art dramatique”, in Dictionnaire philosophique (in French), published 1878: “C’est bien ici qu’on peut dire : Il meglio è l’inimico del bene”
Further reading
perfect is the enemy of good on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
