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

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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

All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.

On Conciliation with America

More information about this quote
Topic
Political compromise Political theory
Speaker
Edmund Burke
Source
On Conciliation with America
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1775 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with America." House of Commons. 22 Mar. 1775, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Another quote originally in French

My center is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking.

Ferdinand Foch

More information about this quote
Topic
Aggression Battle
Speaker
Ferdinand Foch
Language
French
Time
1914 1910s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Foch, Ferdinand. Message sent during the first Battle of the Marne. 8 Sept. 1914.