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
-
Some to the forest, some for firewood.
-
Your own shirt is closer to your body.
-
The quieter you go, the further you'll get.
-
You can't help grief with tears.
-
Каждый кулик своё болото хвалит
Each sandpiper praises its swamp.
-
Береги платье снову, а честь смолоду
Start taking care of the dress while it's new, and of your honor while you are young.
-
A bad example is contagious.
-
Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить
If you like sledding, you should like to carry the sled.
If you appreciate our work, please consider donating today.
We need the support of readers just like you to continue our work.
Choose an amount for a monthly pledge or a single donation below.
From all our team, thank you for your support.
Subscribe and receive notifications about new Russian proverbs in your inbox
