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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Don’t wave your fists after the fight.
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You can't help grief with tears.
-
Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает
The apple never falls far from the tree.
-
Patience and labor will grind everything.
-
With a darling, even a hut is a paradise.
-
По одёжке встречают, по уму провожают
You are greeted by your clothes but bid farewell by your mind.
-
When I eat I am deaf and mute.
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Без труда не выловишь и рыбку из пруда
Without labor, you can not even catch a fish in the pond.
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