Little Things Defined?

What are little things? Why little things? How to do little things right?

As always, there is no standard answer to this seemingly simple question. In such a case, let's consult conventional wisdom.

"What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking, decides the whole future of an existence. One single black speck may be the beginning of a gangrene, of a storm, of a revolution." Henri Frederic Amiel

"Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things." Lawrence D Bell

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones tend to take care of themselves." Dale Carnegie

"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"Its the little things that matter, that add up in the end, with the priceless thrilling magic found only in a friend." Elizabeth Dunphy

"A small leak can sink a great ship." Benjamin Franklin

"For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great." Jose Ortega Y Gasset

"There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible." Samuel Johnson

"All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small." Lao Zi

"The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things." Georg C Lichtenberg

"Inches make champions." Vince Lombardi

"Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things." Og Mandino

"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class." J Willard Marriott

"We can not do great things. We can only do little things with great love." Mother Teresa

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen." John Wooden

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones." Jean Webster

"Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air." Georges Bernanos