Good, better, best
 

Today the subject of perfection was brought up. The 90-year lady in our class said her Home Ec Teacher taught them this saying, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better, best." Have any of you ever heard this? As quilters (or trying to be), I thought this was pretty appropriate. If we are fair, we try and get good, if we are good, we try to get better. Then hopefully, we can be the best that we can be. None of the other ladies in the class had ever heard this either. Thought it was good food for thought.

Thanks for this! I have never heard this but is a good thing.

I wish I had heard this saying years ago. It would have come in handy as a teaching tool. This is a wonderful useful saying.
peace

Yep, I''ve heard it. My grandmother used to quote that to me often when she was teaching me to knit and sew garments. Very useful saying.

I've heard that saying and always thought it was a good one. Keep trying...

Yes...my grandmother used to say that all the time...in later years she started saying "OHIO"...?? Only handle it once. Do it right the first time!! she had great sayings!

Good thoughts to keep in mind, esp when a "kind of" beginner like me! Being in Ohio, love that one!

That one is new to me. And it is food for thought. I do think though, that we need to be on guard against the kind of perfectionism that makes you crazy. I did that for years and then one day just said, "You know what, this is supposed to be something you do to relax and have fun!"

I agree with that as well. After three tries, good, better, best, I'm done. If it isn't okay by try 3, it IS okay! I am trying to stay on the sane side of perfectionism.

No, never heard of that saying. But, now I know what my mother-in-law kept saying - A stitch in time saves 9. Years ago I had my first quilt on a big quilting frame in my living room and my mother-in-law came over here with a friend of hers (both elderly quilters) and they came over to see my first hand quilted quilt. Her friend declared that "my stitches were small enough that a person't toenails would not snag them". Evidently that was a good thing!

That was the motto of the high school I attended back in the dark ages!

"Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better, best." I remember hearing this years ago, when I was in 4-H. Late 50's early 60's

"Only handle it once" is what I advocated for office efficiency years ago. It wasn't a matter of being a perfectionist -- it was a matter of not picking up the same piece of paper over and over again, moving it to another spot. Pick it up, work it, and file it away.

Great saying.....

My dad used to say the good, better, best phrase. Brings back great memories, he's been gone for alot of years.
I loved the OHIO acronym too - an efficiency tool that's been around for a long time, but I've never heard it put so clear and concise as this before.
Great thread ladies!

Yes, I learned it back in the 50's in Girl Scouts.

Good grief--- I read this post and many are saying their grandmothers said it.......revelation to me... I am that grandmother I guess my age is showing, however, my grandmother said it too... 60 years ago.

My Grandmother, too. My Home Ec teacher used to come and sit right next to you and make you rip out stitches while she laughed and told you you would never be happy with less than perfect and she was so right. Yes, I am precision piecer and have to be the best I can do.

Yep. Me too. Gave up perfectionism. It kills self esteem. And relationships too.

I am frequently accused of being a perfectionist. Of course I deny this. I just want to do the best I know I can do.

I remeber that from the nuns in grammar school!

Connie

I had a home ec nun that referred to this as the "extra 2%". Stuck with me.

Definitely heard that all my growing up years. Plus the "Use it up, wear it out, make it do" one...and many more like that.

I have heard that all my life. I guess it came from my grandmother too. Then the 4-H motto: To make the best better. I was a 4-H'er and am now a leader. These sayings are ingrained in us and I don't think it is a bad thing. Also, useit up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. I sometimes take this too far and keep things that should have been thrown out. I am a sentimentalist and get attached to things that are worthless to anyone else.

I think that we should always do our best. That said, there is always room for improvement! But perfectionism can drive a person crazy. Sometimes you have to look at the project, who it's for, what it's for and work accordingly. Like a quilt for a child that is going to drag it around would not be under the same constraints as say a wedding quilt or heirloom quilt. All this is not new to most of us and is common sense, but it's my 2 cents worth! :) someone on this board coined the phrase- "Cozy Quilter" which describes me perfectly. BTW love those old sayings. If more people lived by them nowdays i think the world would be a better place and have better values.

I have heard it and still striving for better

I remember going to my older cousins basketball game YEARS ago when she was a cheerleader (in the 80s) and that was one of their cheers. I've never forgotten it!! :)

Good, better, best, never let it rest, Til your good gets better and your better gets best!! :) It's a great motto!!

Oh, the wisdom of our elders. That sounds like something my mother or grandmother would say.

Learned this in grade school.

I first heard that from my grandmothers. They said it often.

Good Better Best I have heard all my life. It makes for a fun evening to gather many people of all ages and come up with sayings that they grew up with. It could also include famous commercial sayings that keep repeating in your head. Blah Blah Blah hugs

Although I have not heard this in reference to quilting, I have heard it as how to be a true friend.

My grandmother also commented that quilting stitches should be small enough not to snag a person's toenails.

"Your best" does not mean it has to be PERFECT. Try do do the best YOU can do and do not wory about perfection. Nothing is perfect!!!!!!

What an inspirational thread. I was one of those Home Ec. teachers ever so many years ago. Good, better, best was my motto for teaching. It allowed students to relax and try for a better project the next time rather than frustrate them into hating to sew-or cook. Errors or less than perfect projects are tools on the learning curve.

As you sew, so shall you rip!

Yes I've heard this many times, but not in reference to quilting.

Wonderful sayings. Thanks for sharing.

I have heard this,but not necessarily in relation to sewing - just life in general. I think my mom said it. And she also said " Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". My parents were very thrifty. I feel very wasteful at times compared to them.