--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since trifles make the sum of human…" description: "\"Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs; Since life's best joys consist in peace and ease, And though ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png" --- # Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our… ![“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs; Since life's best joys consist in peace and ease, And though but few can serve, yet all may please; On, let th' ungentle spirit learn from hence, A small unkindness is a great offence.” quote by Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png) > “Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs; Since life's best joys consist in peace and ease, And though but few can serve, yet all may please; On, let th' ungentle spirit learn from hence, A small unkindness is a great offence.” [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trifles cause much of human misery, while peace and ease bring true joy; small unkindness is a great offense. **In simple terms:** Small faults cause big problems; peace is valuable. Key Takeaway Cultivate kindness, seek peace. Themes human nature morality peace relationships Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - conflict resolution - ethical decision-making Key Concepts trifles misery joy kindness offense Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to small offenses? - What practices foster lasting peace? A Different Perspective Even minor unkind acts can have large impacts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foibles/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Offence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offence/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) [Unkindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unkindness/) ## Related quotes > [A small unkindness is a great offence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-small-unkindness-is-a-great-offence/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from trifles springs– Oh! let the ungentle spirit learn from thence A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-2/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [I dislike hatred, offence, unkindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-dislike-hatred-offence-unkindness/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [The art of flatterers is to take advantage of the foibles of the great, to foster their errors, and never to give advice which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/the-art-of-flatterers-is-to-take-advantage-of-the-foibles-of-the/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“Flaws weren't pariah; foibles were badges of character. Not something to be brushed away in Photoshop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tieryas-liu/flaws-weren-t-pariah-foibles-were-badges-of-character-not-something/) Peter Tieryas Liu > [As intellectual as we think we are, you still trip, we still have human foibles, sexuality, all the different things to still make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/as-intellectual-as-we-think-we-are-you-still-trip-we-still-have-human/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Moskin has brought together with care and lucidity an inside history of American diplomacy written through the eyes of the many diplomats who conceived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-r-pickering/moskin-has-brought-together-with-care-and-lucidity-an-inside-history/) Thomas R. Pickering > [The common foible of women who have been handsome is to forget that they are no longer so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-common-foible-of-women-who-have-been-handsome-is-to-forget-that/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A man's foibles are what makes him lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/a-man-s-foibles-are-what-makes-him-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I learned that famous writers are people with foibles like anyone else and this helped me realize reaching their level of notoriety wasn't impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-wright/i-learned-that-famous-writers-are-people-with-foibles-like-anyone/) [Kirby Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirby-wright/) > [If, while hurrying ostensibly to the temple of truth, we hand the reins over to our personal interests which look aside at very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/if-while-hurrying-ostensibly-to-the-temple-of-truth-we-hand-the-reins/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most rapacious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fortunately-for-those-who-pay-their-court-through-such-foibles-a-fond/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [The discussing the characters and foibles of common friends is a great sweetness and cement of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-discussing-the-characters-and-foibles-of-common-friends-is-a/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Hannah More > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Wisdom views with an indifferent eye all finite joys, all blessings born to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/wisdom-views-with-an-indifferent-eye-all-finite-joys-all-blessings/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [All reformations seem formidable before they are attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/all-reformations-seem-formidable-before-they-are-attempted/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [He who has once taken to drink can seldom be said to be guilty of one sin only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/he-who-has-once-taken-to-drink-can-seldom-be-said-to-be-guilty-of-one/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [We are too ready to imagine that we are religious, because we know something of religion. We appropriate to ourselves the pious sentiments we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/we-are-too-ready-to-imagine-that-we-are-religious-because-we-know/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A corrupt practice may be abolished, but a soiled imagination is not easily cleansed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-corrupt-practice-may-be-abolished-but-a-soiled-imagination-is-not/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [A faint endeavor ends in a sure defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/a-faint-endeavor-ends-in-a-sure-defeat/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Oh! the joy Of young ideas painted on the mind, In the warm glowing colors fancy spreads On objects not yet known, when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/oh-the-joy-of-young-ideas-painted-on-the-mind-in-the-warm-glowing/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [The world does not require so much to be informed as to be reminded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/the-world-does-not-require-so-much-to-be-informed-as-to-be-reminded/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If we commit any crime, or do any good here, it must be in thought; for our words are few and our deeds none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/if-we-commit-any-crime-or-do-any-good-here-it-must-be-in-thought-for/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [nothing is more common than to mistake the sign for the thing itself; nor is any practice more frequent than that of endeavoring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/nothing-is-more-common-than-to-mistake-the-sign-for-the-thing-itself/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“Forgiveness spares the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/forgiveness-spares-the-expense-of-anger-the-cost-of-hatred-the-waste/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [How much it is to be regretted, that the British ladies should ever sit down contented to polish, when they are able to reform;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/how-much-it-is-to-be-regretted-that-the-british-ladies-should-ever/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Who are those ever multiplying authors that with unparalleled fecundity are overstocking the world with their quick succeeding progeny? They are novel-writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/who-are-those-ever-multiplying-authors-that-with-unparalleled/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) [Explore all 154 Hannah More quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) ## More Ease quotes > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I take the seashell from my jeans pocket and rub my fingers across its silken, indented surface, shallow as my own open hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/i-take-the-seashell-from-my-jeans-pocket-and-rub-my-fingers-across/) [Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/) > [To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/to-be-at-ease-is-better-than-to-be-at-business-nothing-really-belongs/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Efforts to ease regulations and reform the nation's tax system have helped put this self-sustaining recovery on track, The numbers prove our policies have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/efforts-to-ease-regulations-and-reform-the-nation-s-tax-system-have/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [If I replace the word God with the word nature, I am far more at ease with the whole religious enterprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-s-kesselheim/if-i-replace-the-word-god-with-the-word-nature-i-am-far-more-at-ease/) [Alan S. Kesselheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-s-kesselheim/) > [This kind of horror has become all too familiar to us. As parents, Cindy and I offer our prayers to the memory of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/this-kind-of-horror-has-become-all-too-familiar-to-us-as-parents/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) Browse all 1,502 Ease quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs; Since life's best joys consist in peace and ease, And though but few can serve, yet all may please; On, let th' ungentle spirit learn from hence, A small unkindness is a great offence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hannah More" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ease" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/hannah-more-2695_ease_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_2331418.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs; Since life's best…” — Hannah More", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hannah More", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Since trifles make the sum of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-3/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```