The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (35 page)
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All's for the BEST in the best of all possible worlds
This saying translates Voltaire's
Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles
, the observation which the philosophical optimist Dr Pangloss in
Candide
(1759) persists in making, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
1911
Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet
299
The administrative departments were consuming miles of red tape in the correctest forms of activity, and everything was for the best in the best of all possible worlds.
1943
Moving Finger
xv.
I agreed with happy Miss Emily that everything was for the best in the best of possible worlds.
1961
Ice in Bedroom
ii.
Fate had handed him the most stupendous bit of goose [luck] and .. all was for the best in this best of all possible worlds.
content and discontent
;
optimism
Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles
, the observation which the philosophical optimist Dr Pangloss in
Candide
(1759) persists in making, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
1911Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet
299
The administrative departments were consuming miles of red tape in the correctest forms of activity, and everything was for the best in the best of all possible worlds.
1943
Moving Finger
xv.
I agreed with happy Miss Emily that everything was for the best in the best of possible worlds.
1961
Ice in Bedroom
ii.
Fate had handed him the most stupendous bit of goose [luck] and .. all was for the best in this best of all possible worlds.
content and discontent;
optimism
The BEST is the enemy of the good
Also
the GOOD is the enemy of the best
. Cf.
1770
VOLTAIRE
Questions sur L'Encyclopédie
II. 250
c'est bien ici qu'on peut dire Il meglio e l'inimico del bene
, and
1772
—
La Béguele
in
Œuvres Complètes
(1877) X. 50
le mieux est l'ennemi du bien
.
1861
Commentary on Epistles to Seven Churches in Asia
p. v.
‘The best is oftentimes the enemy of the good’; and .. many a good book has remained unwritten .. because there floated before the mind's eye .. the ideal of a better or a best.
1925
Times
1 Dec. 16
This is not the first time in the history of the world when the best has been the enemy of the good; .. one single step on .. solid ground may be more profitable than a more ambitious flight.
1960
Letter
1 June in
Dai Greatcoat
(1980)
III
. 182
Tom told me a very good Spanish proverb: ‘The best is the enemy of the good.’
1981
Times
2 Mar. 13
To maintain that all that a school provides must be provided free makes the best the enemy of the good.
good things
the GOOD is the enemy of the best
. Cf.
1770
VOLTAIRE
Questions sur L'Encyclopédie
II. 250
c'est bien ici qu'on peut dire Il meglio e l'inimico del bene
, and
1772
—
La Béguele
in
Œuvres Complètes
(1877) X. 50
le mieux est l'ennemi du bien
.
1861Commentary on Epistles to Seven Churches in Asia
p. v.
‘The best is oftentimes the enemy of the good’; and .. many a good book has remained unwritten .. because there floated before the mind's eye .. the ideal of a better or a best.
1925
Times
1 Dec. 16
This is not the first time in the history of the world when the best has been the enemy of the good; .. one single step on .. solid ground may be more profitable than a more ambitious flight.
1960
Letter
1 June in
Dai Greatcoat
(1980)
III
. 182
Tom told me a very good Spanish proverb: ‘The best is the enemy of the good.’
1981
Times
2 Mar. 13
To maintain that all that a school provides must be provided free makes the best the enemy of the good.
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