Perfect is the enemy of good, or more literally the best is the enemy of the good, is an aphorism which is commonly attributed to Voltaire, who quoted an Italian proverb in his Dictionnaire philosophique in 1770: “Il meglio è l’inimico del bene”.[2] It subsequently appeared in his moral poem La Bégueule, which starts[3]:
Dans ses écrits, un sage Italien
Dit que le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.
(In his writings, a wise Italian
says that the best is the enemy of the good)
Aristotle, Confucius, and other classical philosophers propounded the principle of the golden mean, which counsels against extremism in general.[4] The Pareto principle or 80–20 rule explains this numerically. For example, it commonly takes 20% of the full time to complete 80% of a task while to complete the last 20% of a task takes 80% of the effort.[5] Achieving absolute perfection may be impossible and so, as increasing effort results in diminishing returns, further activity becomes increasingly inefficient.
Robert Watson-Watt, who developed early warning radar in Britain to counter the rapid growth of the Luftwaffe, propounded a “cult of the imperfect”, which he stated as “Give them the third best to go on with; the second best comes too late, the best never comes.”[6]
Where did this idea come from “the perfect is the enemy of the good”? We don’t know, but similar phrases have been attributed to several philosophers and sages throughout the ages:
- Voltaire: “The best is the enemy of the good.”
- Confucius: “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
- Shakespeare: “Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.”
Recently, contemporary positive psychology author Gretchen Rubin again popularized the aphorism in her book, The Happiness Project. And through the years, various business people and thinkers have expressed the idea without the pithy pointedness of Voltaire or Confucius.
What does it mean?
What does the idea mean? It takes a second glance to let its meaning sink in: The perfect is the enemy of the good.
Trying to make something perfect can actually prevent us from making it just good. Perfection in its elusive glory is like a unicorn. Sure, it sounds great, but who’s actually seen one? I’d rather ride a real horse than wait for an imagined unicorn.
Instead of pushing yourself to an impossible ‘perfect,’ and therefore getting nowhere, accept ‘good.’ Many things worth doing are worth doing badly.”
[Sources]
- ^ M.P. Singh (2005), Quote Unquote (A Handbook of Quotations), p. 223, ISBN 8183820085
- ^ Susan Ratcliffe (2011), Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, Oxford University Press, p. 389, ISBN 978-0199567072
- ^ Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Allen W. Wood, Hugh Barr Nisbet (1991), Elements of the Philosophy of Right, Cambridge University Press, p. 447, ISBN 978-0521348881
- ^ Tal Ben-Shahar (2009), The Pursuit of Perfect, McGraw Hill Professional, p. 113, ISBN 978-0-07-160882-4
- ^ E. Gandevia, S. Breakspear (2009), Equip, Talent Generation, p. 30, ISBN 978-0980679304
- ^ L Brown (1999), Technical and Military Imperatives: A Radar History of World War 2, p. 64, ISBN 9781420050660
WIKEPEDIA
About what Rabbi Frand said about the Perfect being Enemy of the Good. Take a look at the Hakdama of the Chovas Halevovos where he writes that he had many fears about writing the Sefer for a variety of reasons that he was worried about . But then he remembered a saying “Min Hazehirus Shelo Tarbeh Lehizoher” etc. and he elaborates about this concept.
The Rov inspired yidden to learn Daf Yomi with this directive and message.
What is the source in CHAZAL for it and or is there Jewish sources for it and is it a Jewish thing?
This might be the perfect message I need to inculcate in myself; I’m just not sure I can completely inculcate it to the max – so why bother.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov famously said: “Ah bissele iz oichet gut”, “A little bit is also good.” No chiddush to Breslover ovdim who have known and lived with this wisdom for two hundred years now.