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Also, the best-laid schemes go astray. Even very care ful designs or projects do not always succeed. For example, Mary spent all afternoon preparing this elaborate dish but forgot the most important ingredient? oh well, the best-laid plans go astray. This particular turn of phrase comes from Robert Burns's poem "To a Mouse" (1786): "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley [go often astray]." It is so well known that it is often abbreviated to the best-laid plans. best of both worlds, the Benefits from two seemingly opposed alternatives, as in Jenny taught in the morning only and worked on her book afternoons, so she had the best of both worlds. Charles Kingsley used this idiom in Westward Ho! (1855): "Make the best of both worlds." Also see MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
American Heritage Idioms