We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Activist, Advocate
Human felicity is produced not as much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Inches make champions.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my dear, kiss me and be quiet.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
One step and then another, and the longest walk is ended.
One stitch and then another, and the longest rent is mended.
One brick upon another, and the tallest wall is made.
One flake and then another, and the deepest snow is laid.
—Unknown
It helps a lot looking at life from the perspective of one’s certain death. Try to visualize yourself at the hour of death. Just a couple of minutes each day. It’s basic Buddhist beginners practice.
—Hans Taeger
A little neglect may breed great mischief. For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; and for want of a horse, the rider was lost; being overtaken, and slain by the enemy. All for want of care about a horse-shoe nail.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Great issues develop from small beginnings.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
The way to succeed is never quit. That’s it. But really be humble about it … You start out lowly and humble and you carefully try to learn an accretion of little things that help you get there.
—Alex Haley (1921–92) American Novelist, Biographer
Those people work more wisely who seek to achieve good in their own small corner of the world … than those who are forever thinking that life is in vain, unless one can … do big things.
—Herbert Butterfield (1900–79) British Historian, Philosopher
He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
—Chinese Proverb
If, after all, men cannot always make history have a meaning, they can always act so that their own lives have one.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
The chief duty I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Much rain wears the marble.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
True worth is doing each day some little good and not dreaming of great things to do by and by.
—Unknown
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I learned…that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.
—Brenda Ueland (1891–1985) American Journalist Memoirist
I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
—Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909) American Unitarian Clergyman, Writer
Many strokes overthrow the tallest oaks.
—John Lyly (1554–1606) English Dramatist, Novelist, Writer
We think in generalities, but we live in detail.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Little by little does the trick.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Not to go back is somewhat to advance. And men must walk, at least, before they dance.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself.
—Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) (1885–1962) Danish Novelist, Short-story Writer
There is time enough for every thing in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once ; but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
It is by attempting to reach the top at a single leap that so much misery is caused in the world.
—William Cobbett (1763–1835) English Journalist, Social Reformer
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
—Robert Brault
If you wish to reach the highest, begin at the lowest.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.
—Andy Rooney (b.1919) American Writer, Humorist, TV Personality
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