--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The human tendency to regard little…" description: "\"The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things.\" — Georg C. Lichtenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_great-things_the-human-tendency-to-regard-little-thin_646453.png" --- # The human tendency to regard little things as important… ![“The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things.” quote by Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_great-things_the-human-tendency-to-regard-little-thin_646453.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_great-things_the-human-tendency-to-regard-little-thin_646453.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/georg-c-lichtenberg-1087_great-things_the-human-tendency-to-regard-little-thin_646453.png) > “The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things.” [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minor details, when valued, can spark major innovations and cultural shifts. **In simple terms:** Small things can lead to big achievements. Key Takeaway Pay attention to details. Themes creativity innovation attention to detail Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - product design - scientific research - artistic creation Key Concepts incremental impact serendipity Questions to Reflect On - What small detail could you elevate today? - How does focusing on the trivial affect your larger goals? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on minutiae can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [When little things are so important, it's because there aren't any big ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-freedman/when-little-things-are-so-important-it-s-because-there-aren-t-any-big/) [Benedict Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-freedman/) > [I think it's a human tendency that's been around for a while to try to be as good as possible to prove your worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-think-it-s-a-human-tendency-that-s-been-around-for-a-while-to-try/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Nothing has sunk more creators and caused more unhappiness than this: our inherently human tendency to pursue a strategy aimed at accomplishing one goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/nothing-has-sunk-more-creators-and-caused-more-unhappiness-than-this/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Human tendency is to make mountains out of molehills. Yet when we examine our problems...we realize it's how we look at them...that really makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/human-tendency-is-to-make-mountains-out-of-molehills-yet-when-we/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“I suppose it's human tendency to treat the people who you've wronged badly though, isn't it? Easier to dismiss them if you can pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-buroker/i-suppose-it-s-human-tendency-to-treat-the-people-who-you-ve-wronged/) [Lindsay Buroker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-buroker/) > [There's an interesting trend that occurs in times of mounting pressure and high uncertainty, which is that it's a natural human tendency to seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagel-iii/there-s-an-interesting-trend-that-occurs-in-times-of-mounting/) [John Hagel III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagel-iii/) > [“Many theories of behavior pivot around a particular human tendency: We’re keen responders to positive and negative reinforcements, or zippy calculators of our self-interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/many-theories-of-behavior-pivot-around-a-particular-human-tendency-we/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“It is a human tendency to become what you attack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-is-a-human-tendency-to-become-what-you-attack/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Do not Show excess Love, Affection, help to everyone because it is a Human Tendency to Underestimate the Things given to them for Free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-thaman/do-not-show-excess-love-affection-help-to-everyone-because-it-is-a/) [Arjun Thaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-thaman/) > [Never show excess affection and care to anyone, Bcoz its human tendency to underestimate anything given free of cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/never-show-excess-affection-and-care-to-anyone-bcoz-its-human/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The more we start liking somebody, the more we fear losing them. It's a human tendency because we can't afford to lose a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-more-we-start-liking-somebody-the-more-we-fear-losing-them-it-s-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Our normal human tendency is to enjoy life, to play, to explore, to be happy, and to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/our-normal-human-tendency-is-to-enjoy-life-to-play-to-explore-to-be/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [It is a human tendency "to measure truth and error by our capacity."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-a-human-tendency-to-measure-truth-and-error-by-our-capacity/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [When people speak of Time's healing magic, they are simply being euphemistic about our human tendency - and perhaps necessity - to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-burgoyne-corbett/when-people-speak-of-time-s-healing-magic-they-are-simply-being/) [Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-burgoyne-corbett/) > [We must all beware the very real and understandable human tendency to ignore or subvert facts, and findings of science, that discomfort us for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-brody/we-must-all-beware-the-very-real-and-understandable-human-tendency-to/) William R. Brody ## More by Georg C. Lichtenberg > [If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/if-people-should-ever-start-to-do-only-what-is-necessary-millions/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [The wisdom of providence is as much revealed in the rarity of genius, as in the circumstance that not everyone is deaf or blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-wisdom-of-providence-is-as-much-revealed-in-the-rarity-of-genius/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one’s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/i-ceased-in-the-year-1764-to-believe-that-one-can-convince-one-s/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Probably no invention came more easily to man than heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/probably-no-invention-came-more-easily-to-man-than-heaven/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [It is a great shame; most of our words are misused tools / which often still smell of the mud in which previous owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/it-is-a-great-shame-most-of-our-words-are-misused-tools-which-often/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [To live when you do not want to is dreadful, but it would be even more terrible to be immortal when you did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/to-live-when-you-do-not-want-to-is-dreadful-but-it-would-be-even-more/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [He who understands the wise is wise already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/he-who-understands-the-wise-is-wise-already/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [The fruits of philosophy are the important thing, not the philosophy itself. When we ask the time, we don't want to know how watches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-fruits-of-philosophy-are-the-important-thing-not-the-philosophy/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [He who says he hates all kinds of flattery, and says so in earnest, has undoubtedly not as yet become acquainted with all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/he-who-says-he-hates-all-kinds-of-flattery-and-says-so-in-earnest-has/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [One can live in this world on soothsaying but not on truth saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/one-can-live-in-this-world-on-soothsaying-but-not-on-truth-saying/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Actual aristocracy cannot be abolished by any law: all the law can do is decree how it is to be imparted and who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/actual-aristocracy-cannot-be-abolished-by-any-law-all-the-law-can-do/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [One of the greatest and also the commonest of faults is for men to believe that, because they never hear their shortcomings spoken of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/one-of-the-greatest-and-also-the-commonest-of-faults-is-for-men-to/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [People who never have any time on their hands are those who do the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/people-who-never-have-any-time-on-their-hands-are-those-who-do-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [An hour-glass is a reminder not only of time's quick flight, but also of the dust to which we must at last return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/an-hour-glass-is-a-reminder-not-only-of-time-s-quick-flight-but-also/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) [Explore all 295 Georg C. Lichtenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) ## More Great things quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [No matter how many great things you say about Jacques Pepin, there's always more. Through his books and videos, he taught me the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/no-matter-how-many-great-things-you-say-about-jacques-pepin-there-s/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [Great things that can happen when you're doing a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-brooks/great-things-that-can-happen-when-you-re-doing-a-movie/) [James L. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-brooks/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Second letter from Mom: So! What if you colored the world? This still does not seem a great thing. In fact it seems very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-d-calin/second-letter-from-mom-so-what-if-you-colored-the-world-this-still/) [Elena D. Calin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-d-calin/) > [I have so much respect for the country, I don't like blanket indictments. There's a lot of really great things about this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/i-have-so-much-respect-for-the-country-i-don-t-like-blanket/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The great thing about the arts, and especially popular music, is that it really does cut across genres and races and classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/the-great-thing-about-the-arts-and-especially-popular-music-is-that/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [I don’t know, I don’t know that I’m missing anything. I just think too much sometimes. Sometimes I’m even happy because I’m so engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-know-that-i-m-missing-anything-i-just-think-too/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [The great thing about an independent film is that you're too busy working, and you're too busy hoping to God to get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-great-thing-about-an-independent-film-is-that-you-re-too-busy/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/every-great-thing-starts-with-an-idea-followed-by-a-doubt-and-finally/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [That is one of the great things about Test cricket, the ball. 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