perfect is the enemy of good

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

perfect is the enemy of good

  1. Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
  2. Insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement through compromises.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Translations

See also

References

  1. ^ 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”
  2. ^ 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

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