ProverbWisdom
German origin
German originDas Bessere ist der Feind des Guten
Meaning: Trying to improve something that already works can spoil it.
Literally: The better is the enemy of the good
Example: “Der Entwurf ist fertig, hör auf, daran herumzubasteln. Das Bessere ist der Feind des Guten.” — The draft is done, stop fiddling with it: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Equivalents in English and French
English: If it ain't broke, don't fix it
French: On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne (literally: You don't change a winning team)
Origin: Voltaire made it famous in French in his verse tale La Bégueule (1772), crediting it to "a wise Italian": le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
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