undefined | Better HN

0 pointsmablopoule3y ago0 comments

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions.", "Perfect is the enemy of good", and more generally idioms that sound like either paradoxical assertions or obvious platitudes.

It wasn't until late teens/early twenties that lots of those piece of wisdom went from "cliché phrases you've heard all your life", to (often) deeply impactful aspect of human conditions.

The "road to hell" idiom explicitly didn't click until I had enough experience with counter-productive efforts who looks good on the outside, but actually fail to take into account a more nuanced reality.

It also kinda works with the distinction between "values I believe in" and "arguments articulated around shared values". Being able to disagree on something even when (especially when) it's invoking values I believe in is one of the most important thing I've gained as I matured, and yet it needs experience to 'click'.

0 comments

1 comments · 1 top-level

jrockway3y ago

I never remember the right "direction" for these platitudes. I feel like "good is the enemy of perfect" is just as valid as "perfect is the enemy of good". Meanwhile, the road to heaven is also paved with good intentions. Good paving material, it turns out, but asphalt is cheaper.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse