English Explanatory Dictionary

perfect is the enemy of good

English dictionary entry

Meanings

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

Word forms

perfect is the enemy of good the perfect is the enemy of the good

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, itself a translation of the Italian proverb il meglio è nemico del bene.

Synonyms

better is the enemy of good perfection is the enemy of good perfect is the enemy of good enough the best is the enemy of the good the better is the enemy of the good

Related words

half a loaf is better than none leave well enough alone

Derived words

make the perfect the enemy of the good let the perfect be the enemy of the good

Translations

Chinese Mandarin: 求全責備 /求全责备 Esperanto: plibono estas malamiko de bono French: le mieux est l'ennemi du bien German: das Bessere ist der Feind des Guten Italian: il meglio è nemico del bene Norwegian Bokmål: det beste er det godes verste fiende Polish: lepsze jest wrogiem dobrego Vietnamese: cầu toàn trách bị
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