The best is the enemy of the good.?

Question

Can someone explain this please?

Answer 1

It means that the effort put into trying (and failing) to do something perfectly could be put to use more productively to do the required task in a satisfactory fashion.

Answer 2

The good is the enemy of the best
"The good is the enemy of the best." - anonymous quote I ran across this morning.
"The best is the enemy of the good." - Voltaire.

So which is it? It's probably both. In light of the first quote, we can never become so complacent that our way is "good enough." People and organizations must always strive to become better at whom they are and what they do. This is the center of continuous improvement and other process-centric improvement efforts. This idea is also the center of 3M and Google's efforts to set aside time for their employees to work on new (and different) ideas for products to help those organizations jump the boundaries of "we've always done it this way."

On the other hand, we don't want to spend so much time looking for the best that nothing happens. This is where I've heard the Voltaire quote used, particularly when railing against the idea of "best practices." The concern is that people and organizations spend so much time either trying to become the best or trying to find the best way to do something that they never actually get it done. As Hiebeler discussed at KMPro, there really are no true best practices, simply examples of best practices.

Answer 3

“We really don't have enemies. It's just that some of our best friends are trying to kill us.”

“Pres. Lincoln: I agree with you sir, and the best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.”

“All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.”

“The best is the enemy of the good.” ~ VOLTAIRE

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”

“Better an honest enemy than a false friend” ~ Bible Quote

“Try and fail, but don't fail to try.”

“Little by little one walks far”

“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”

“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers” ~ VOLTAIRE

“Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do” ~ VOLTAIRE

Answer 4

Looking for a perfect plan accomplishes nothing. Executing a good plan accomplishes something. Nitpicking over details can be paralyzing and counterproductive.