Лучшее – враг хорошего
With accent marks:
Лу́чшее – враг хоро́шего.
Translation:
The best is the enemy of the good.
Meaning:
The author of the phrase “the best is the enemy of the good” is considered to be the French philosopher and writer of the 18th century Voltaire. He wrote it in his “Philosophical Dictionary” and the novel “Impatient” ("le mieux est I'ennemi du bien"), although such thoughts were expressed by many others including Shakespeare, J. Bruno, and so on.
The interpretation of this phrase varies, but in Russia it is often understood in the sense that in striving for the best, people often spoil the good.
Other Russian proverbs
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На Бога надейся, а сам не плошай
Put your trust in God, but don't make mistakes yourself
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There is no smoke without fire.
-
Measure seven times, cut one.
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Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается
All is well that ends well.
-
In a quiet whirlpool, demons live.
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В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят
Don't bring your set of rules in a foreign monastery
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A well-fed man does not understand a starving one.
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Что имеем – не храним, а потерявши – плачем
We don't appreciate what we have but we cry when we lose it.
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