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

I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it.

Voltaire

More information about this quote
Topic
Enemies

Author

Voltaire
Medium
Letter
Language
French
Time
1767 1760s 18th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Voltaire. Letter to Etienne Noel Damilaville. 16 May 1767.

Another quote from the 1770s

Claret is the liquor for the boys; port, for men; but he who aspires to be a hero (smiling) must drink brandy.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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Read The Life of Samuel Johnson at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Alcohol Drinking
Speaker
Samuel Johnson

Author

James Boswell
Source
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D
Genre
Biography
Language
English
Time
1779 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in journal entry, written by James Boswell. 7 Apr. 1779.

Current Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Another quote originally in French

Knowing that certain nights whose sweetness lingers will keep returning to the earth and sea after we are gone, yes, this helps us die.

Albert Camus

The Sea Close By

More information about this quote
Topic
Acceptance of death Death The human condition

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Sea Close By
Medium
Essay
Language
French
Time
1953 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. "The Sea Close By." Lyrical and Critical Essays. Vintage Books, 1970. Originally published in L'Eté [Summer]. Gallimard, 1954.