--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alas! by what slight means are great…" description: "\"Alas! by what slight means are great affairs brought to destruction.\" — Claudius Claudianus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/claudius-claudianus-19047_affair_alas-by-what-slight-means-are-great-affa_1904230.jpg" --- # Alas! by what slight means are great affairs brought to… ![“Alas! by what slight means are great affairs brought to destruction.” quote by Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/claudius-claudianus-19047_affair_alas-by-what-slight-means-are-great-affa_1904230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/claudius-claudianus-19047_affair_alas-by-what-slight-means-are-great-affa_1904230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/claudius-claudianus-19047_affair_alas-by-what-slight-means-are-great-affa_1904230.jpg) > “Alas! by what slight means are great affairs brought to destruction.” [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minor flaws or trivial causes can lead to the downfall of great endeavors. **In simple terms:** Small mistakes can ruin big projects. Key Takeaway Pay attention to details. Themes hubris fragility consequences pride impermanence Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - Construction projects - Financial investments - Health initiatives Key Concepts Tragic flaw Chaos theory Systems failure Questions to Reflect On - What minor detail could jeopardize your goal? - How do you balance focus on details vs. big picture? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on minor issues can distract from larger problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) ## Related quotes > [I knew that there had been times in the past-terrible times-when people had destroyed others in haste,in fear, and had brought about their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-knew-that-there-had-been-times-in-the-past-terrible-times-when/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [“Most people thought we brought the destruction on ourselves. In a way, they were right. They'd be surprised how large a part the angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-ragland/most-people-thought-we-brought-the-destruction-on-ourselves-in-a-way/) E.M. Ragland > [Instead of helping women in Roe v. Wade, I brought destruction to me & millions of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-mccorvey/instead-of-helping-women-in-roe-v-wade-i-brought-destruction-to-me/) [Norma McCorvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-mccorvey/) > [I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-always-thought-that-one-man-of-tolerable-abilities-may-work/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [There are no small steps in great affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/there-are-no-small-steps-in-great-affairs/) [Jean Francois Paul de Gondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/) > [Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/looking-at-small-advantages-prevents-great-affairs-from-being/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Scrupulous people are not suited to great affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robert-jacques-turgot-baron-de-laune/scrupulous-people-are-not-suited-to-great-affairs/) [Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robert-jacques-turgot-baron-de-laune/) > [The difficult problems in life always start off being simple. Great affairs always start off being small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-difficult-problems-in-life-always-start-off-being-simple-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. 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Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More by Claudius Claudianus > [Here is a fine field for talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/here-is-a-fine-field-for-talent/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Men live best upon a little; Nature has given to all the privilege of being happy, if they but knew how to use their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/men-live-best-upon-a-little-nature-has-given-to-all-the-privilege-of/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Nothing is more annoying than a low man raised to a high position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/nothing-is-more-annoying-than-a-low-man-raised-to-a-high-position/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [They are raised on high that they may be dashed to pieces with a greater fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/they-are-raised-on-high-that-they-may-be-dashed-to-pieces-with-a/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [The fickle populace always change with the prince.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/the-fickle-populace-always-change-with-the-prince/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [The afflictions to which we are accustomed, do not disturb us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/the-afflictions-to-which-we-are-accustomed-do-not-disturb-us/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [The noblest character is stained by the addition of pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/the-noblest-character-is-stained-by-the-addition-of-pride/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [The people become more observant of justice, and do not refuse to submit to the laws when they see them obeyed by their enactor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/the-people-become-more-observant-of-justice-and-do-not-refuse-to/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Lust, forgetful of future suffering, hurries us along the forbidden path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/lust-forgetful-of-future-suffering-hurries-us-along-the-forbidden-path/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Nor is heaven always at peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/nor-is-heaven-always-at-peace/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Clemency alone makes us equal to the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/clemency-alone-makes-us-equal-to-the-gods/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Virtue is indeed its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/virtue-is-indeed-its-own-reward/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [A severe war lurks under the show of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/a-severe-war-lurks-under-the-show-of-peace/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [He who seeks to terrify others is more in fear himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/he-who-seeks-to-terrify-others-is-more-in-fear-himself/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) > [Nature has granted to all to be happy, if we did but know how to use her benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/nature-has-granted-to-all-to-be-happy-if-we-did-but-know-how-to-use/) [Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) [Explore all 33 Claudius Claudianus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. 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