perfect is the enemy of good
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editVariant 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
edit- Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
- Insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement through compromises.
Synonyms
editDerived terms
editTranslations
editTranslations
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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
edit- perfect is the enemy of good on Wikipedia.Wikipedia