perfect is the enemy of good
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
A 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,[1] itself a translation of the Italian proverb il meglio è nemico del bene.[2]
Proverb
- Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
- Insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement through compromises.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Translations
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
