--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thou little thinkest what a little…" description: "\"Thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the world.\" — John Selden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/john-selden-7457_atheism_thou-little-thinkest-what-a-little-foole_2938384.jpg" --- # Thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the… ![“Thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the world.” quote by John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/john-selden-7457_atheism_thou-little-thinkest-what-a-little-foole_2938384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/john-selden-7457_atheism_thou-little-thinkest-what-a-little-foole_2938384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/john-selden-7457_atheism_thou-little-thinkest-what-a-little-foole_2938384.jpg) > “Thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the world.” [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even a small fool can control the world, suggesting that trivial forces can dominate. **In simple terms:** Trivial forces can rule the world. Key Takeaway Beware of underestimating minor influences. Themes power dynamics foolery control Mood cautionary analytical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - media influence - economic markets Key Concepts political theory history Questions to Reflect On - What small actions shape large outcomes? - How do we guard against foolish governance? A Different Perspective Not all trivialities have real power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Foolery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolery/) [Foolery Governs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolery-governs-4367959/) [Governs World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governs-world-1275252/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Little Foolery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-foolery-4367958/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Thou Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-little-481363/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Canst thou prophesy, thou little tree, What the glory of thy boughs shall be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-larcom/canst-thou-prophesy-thou-little-tree-what-the-glory-of-thy-boughs/) [Lucy Larcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-larcom/) > [Is this wide world not large enough to fill thee,Nor Nature, nor that deep man's Nature, Art?Are they too thin, too weak and poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-coleridge/is-this-wide-world-not-large-enough-to-fill-thee-nor-nature-nor-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-coleridge/) > [Thou little bird, thou dweller by the sea, Why takest thou its melancholy voice, And with that boding cry Along the waves dost thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-dana-jr-2/thou-little-bird-thou-dweller-by-the-sea-why-takest-thou-its/) [Richard Henry Dana, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-dana-jr-2/) > [The Law of Love, call it attraction, affinity, cohesion if you like, governs the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-law-of-love-call-it-attraction-affinity-cohesion-if-you-like/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Nothing can be more consoling to the man of God, than the conviction that the Lord who made the world governs the world; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/nothing-can-be-more-consoling-to-the-man-of-god-than-the-conviction/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Imagination governs the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/imagination-governs-the-world/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“It is thought which governs the world, and all the states in it, and produces whatever is great and glorious in them. 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