To become the best in anything, you should not be afraid to leave your own “comfort zone”. In other words, stop being afraid of bumps on your life path, because stuffing cones is also good. And of course, static mediocrity should not become your "ceiling" But will there be enough strength and opportunity? That is the question. So, in the topic of today's publication, we will consider what “best is the enemy of the good”.
The author of the phrase and its meaning
In the distant 1574, the Italian author M. Giovanni first expressed this idea in the comments on the famous collection of short stories by the Italian writer D. Boccaccio “The Decameron”. Later, William Shakespeare in the King Lear tragedy writes the following sentence: “Striving for the best, we often spoil the good.” But who said the phrase “the best is the enemy of the good”? So, the author of this phrase in this context is the famous Voltaire. In the novel "Touchless" he first used this expression. And in an article on dramatic art, Voltaire again uses the expression "the best is the enemy of the good." What does it mean?
Usually it is used as a humorous and ironic warning for a person who, wanting to achieve or get the best, may lose what he already has. He does not think that he already owns something good.
Indeed, sometimes the time spent on improving an already good result is a pity. It is worth considering when and under what circumstances the results achieved are sufficient.
Today
Everyone knows that sometimes theory and practice are not the same thing. What is the difference between the two? The process of teaching the young generation consists in a certain appeal not to stop there, to achieve more, to learn something new every day. This is all true and correct. But you should not forget to look around and learn to see the good that surrounds you today here and now.
And the meaning of the phrase “the best is the enemy of the good” sometimes contains a whole drama. Since people themselves often do not know what is good for them, in pursuit of the ghostly “best,” they are ruining their health at work. Say, dreaming of buying an expensive car. Or, for example, being in search of a “perfect prince” on a white Mercedes or a long-legged blonde, they don’t notice a good and honest person next to them. After all, in fact, there are many situations that can show us what it means "the best enemy is the good."
Do you know where you are going?
Have you ever thought that you can be the smartest, the strongest, the fastest. But at the same time, one does not have to know the most important thing about oneself: that one can hardly be satisfied, and therefore happy, if one does not know how to enjoy the result achieved.
Indeed, the main thing for each of us is to be happy, to determine for ourselves, why we live, what we want, and choose the lifestyle that gives a feeling of satisfaction and contentment. You should know and be able to distinguish between the difference between the best and what a person has chosen and what has. Moreover, each of us has the right to desire and strive for the best. But, moving on, one should rejoice at the good that already exists, and enjoy it. If this does not happen, then eternal discontent can destroy the foundation that man himself has long and painstakingly erected.
There is one feature: reaching a cherished goal or the very best, a person instantly loses interest. And here he is again dissatisfied with himself and, as a rule, unhappy.
To avoid disappointments of this kind, you should stop at what has been achieved, that is, good, and begin to study those areas in which you have not yet reached heights. Remember that a diamond will begin to sparkle if it is polished from all sides without stopping at one of them. This is what “the best is the enemy of the good”.
Conclusion
Summing up the above, we note that based on the life experience of mankind, collected in the form of proverbs, sayings, quotes, aphorisms or even idioms, you can avoid many mistakes.
Due to the brevity of the saying, when the rules of life are collected in just a few words, a person correctly understands the idea that they wanted to convey to our consciousness. The meaning of the proverb “the best is the enemy of the good” is the truth affirmed by life, which will teach us not only to protect and love what we have, but also allow us to discern what is good.
Endless running around the attraction of life tires, and it turns out that the "best" sometimes does not exist.