• Listen

  What it means

  “The better is the enemy of the good.” Trying to improve something that already works can spoil it. The saying warns that perfectionism can ruin good work.

  English equivalent

  The perfect is the enemy of the good.

  Vocabulary

  • lepsze — the better (neuter comparative of 'dobry')
  • wróg — enemy
  • dobre — the good (neuter of 'dobry')

  Grammar note

  'Lepsze' and 'dobrego' are neuter forms. 'Dobrego' is the genitive of 'dobre', required after 'wróg' in this construction.

  Cultural context

  Versions of this saying are linked to Voltaire and other writers. In Polish, it is widely used to warn against trying to improve everything too much.

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!