--- 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.\" — Hannah More" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.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.” quote by Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.png) > “Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs.” [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. Small faults accumulate, causing much of our suffering; minor flaws have large impacts. **In simple terms:** Minor flaws cause major misery. Key Takeaway Address small issues before they grow. Themes human nature flaws consequences psychology Mood thoughtful cautionary reflective Type aphilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace - self-improvement Key Concepts incremental harm self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - Which trifles are you overlooking? - How can you mitigate minor faults? A Different Perspective Ignoring small problems leads to larger crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foibles/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Half Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-misery-1425866/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Misery Foibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery-foibles-6163944/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) [Trifles Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles-make-1502590/) [Unkindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unkindness/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from-3/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/trifles-make-perfection-and-perfection-is-no-trifle/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [“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/) > [Trifles make up the happiness or the misery of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/trifles-make-up-the-happiness-or-the-misery-of-human-life/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Trifles make perfection but perfection is not a trifle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/trifles-make-perfection-but-perfection-is-not-a-trifle/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Trifles make up the happiness or the misery of mortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/trifles-make-up-the-happiness-or-the-misery-of-mortal-life/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/trifles-make-perfection-but-perfection-is-no-trifle/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Delude not yourself with the notion that you may be untrue and uncertain in trifles and in important things the contrary. Trifles make up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-maria-von-weber/delude-not-yourself-with-the-notion-that-you-may-be-untrue-and/) [Carl Maria von Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-maria-von-weber/) > [Trifles make the sum of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/trifles-make-the-sum-of-life/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The difference between being loved and feeling loved accounts for half the misery in the world." Between Eternities”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-pilpel/the-difference-between-being-loved-and-feeling-loved-accounts-for/) [R. Pilpel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-pilpel/) > [Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/half-of-the-misery-in-the-world-comes-from-trying-to-look-instead-of/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Half the misery in the world comes of want of courage to speak and to hear the truth plainly and in a spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/half-the-misery-in-the-world-comes-of-want-of-courage-to-speak-and-to/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [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/) > [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 Foibles quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-r-pickering/) > [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/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tieryas-liu/) > [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/) > [Most men call fretting a minor fault, a foible, and not a vice. There is no vice except drunkenness which can so utterly destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt-jackson/most-men-call-fretting-a-minor-fault-a-foible-and-not-a-vice-there-is/) [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt-jackson/) > [We have been stuffed full of praise for mediocrity and had our foibles diagnosed away with hyphenated jargon and pop psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/we-have-been-stuffed-full-of-praise-for-mediocrity-and-had-our/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [When a well-rounded character takes over, he doesn't lecture you about his history and how he is misunderstood. He lives his life, does things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lam/when-a-well-rounded-character-takes-over-he-doesn-t-lecture-you-about/) [Andrew Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lam/) > [Life with a daughter of nine through twelve is a special experience for parents, particularly mothers. In a daughter's looks, actions, attitudes, passions, loves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-chess/life-with-a-daughter-of-nine-through-twelve-is-a-special-experience/) [Stella Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-chess/) [Browse all 58 Foibles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foibles/) ```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.", "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/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foibles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/681/hannah-more-2695_foibles_since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-thin_808206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since trifles make the sum of human things, And half our misery from our foibles springs.” — 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/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/since-trifles-make-the-sum-of-human-things-and-half-our-misery-from/#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 } } ] } ```