The best is the enemy of the good.

Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.

Voltaire

More information about this quote

Topic

Perfection

Author

Voltaire

Medium

Poem

Language

French

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Voltaire. La Bégueule, Conte Moral. Lausanne: Chez François Grasset et Comp, 1772.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Voltaire about perfection: “The best is the enemy of the good.”
Download
A quote by Voltaire about perfection: “The best is the enemy of the good.”
Download
A quote by Voltaire about perfection: “The best is the enemy of the good.”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Voltaire

If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others?

Voltaire

Candide

Buy Candide at Amazon Buy Candide at Amazon
Read Candide at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Problem of evil

Author

Voltaire
Source
Candide
Medium
Novel
Genre
Satire
Statement Type
Question
Language
French
Time
1759 1750s 18th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 6.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 6.

Another quote from the 1770s

There is a strong shadow where there is much light.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

More information about this quote
Topic
Light and shadow Contrasts Yin and yang
Speaker
Gotz von Berlichingen

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
German
Time
1773 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Gotz von Berlichingen. 1773, act 1.

Another quote originally in French

Hope raises no dust.

Paul Eluard

More information about this quote
Topic
Hope

Author

Paul Eluard
Medium
Poem
Language
French
Time
1946 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Eluard, Paul. "Ailleurs, Ici Partout." Poesie ininterrompue. Paris: Gallimard, 1946.