---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A trifle is often pregnant with high…"
description: "\"A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the prudent man neglects no circumstance.\" — Sophocles"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png"
---

#  A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the…

![“A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the prudent man neglects no circumstance.” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png)

> “A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the prudent man neglects no circumstance.”

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Minor events may hold great significance; wise people attend to every detail rather than dismissing the seemingly trivial.

**In simple terms:** Small things can be crucial; ignore them at your peril.

Key Takeaway

Neglecting minutiae can overlook hidden importance.

Themes

wisdom attention to detail significance decision‑making

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

philosophical observation advice

When to use this quote

- legal investigations
- medical diagnostics
- project planning

Key Concepts

perception risk assessment

Practical Applications

- practice systematic review
- maintain checklists

Questions to Reflect On

- What everyday 'trifles' have you overlooked that later proved vital?
- How can you cultivate vigilance without becoming paralyzed?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Importance Prudent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-prudent-1139216/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Pregnant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pregnant/) [Prudent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudent/) [Prudent Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudent-man-376207/) [Trifle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifle/) [Trifle Pregnant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifle-pregnant-1139215/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/)

## Related quotes

> [A prudent man should neglect no circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-prudent-man-should-neglect-no-circumstances/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [The prudent man does himself good; the virtuous one does it to other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-prudent-man-does-himself-good-the-virtuous-one-does-it-to-other/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [God is the only being who has time enough; but a prudent man, who knows how to seize occasion, can commonly make a shift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/god-is-the-only-being-who-has-time-enough-but-a-prudent-man-who-knows/)

[James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/)

> [Sufficiency in thought makes a prudent man wants nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jankada/sufficiency-in-thought-makes-a-prudent-man-wants-nothing/)

[Dr Jankada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jankada/)

> [Tis hard to fight with anger but the prudent man keeps it under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/tis-hard-to-fight-with-anger-but-the-prudent-man-keeps-it-under/)

[Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/)

> [A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prudent-man-must-behave-like-those-archers-who-if-they-are-skillful/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-nearly-always-follow-the-tracks-made-by-others-and-proceed-in-2/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [The prudent man really frames his own fortunes for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/the-prudent-man-really-frames-his-own-fortunes-for-himself/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [In marrying, a man does not, to be sure, marry his wife's mother; and yet a prudent man, when he begins to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/in-marrying-a-man-does-not-to-be-sure-marry-his-wife-s-mother-and-yet/)

[Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/)

> [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings and strictly honest, who complained of hard luck. A good character, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his-2/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“tis the part of a truly prudent man not to be wise beyond his condition, but either to take no notice of what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus-roterodamus/tis-the-part-of-a-truly-prudent-man-not-to-be-wise-beyond-his/)

[Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus-roterodamus/)

> [A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent, so that if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prudent-man-should-always-follow-in-the-path-trodden-by-great-men/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [“The prudent man always studies seriously and earnestly to understand whatever he professes to understand, and not merely to persuade other people that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-prudent-man-always-studies-seriously-and-earnestly-to-understand/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [A prudent man will think more important what fate has conceded to him, than what it has denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-prudent-man-will-think-more-important-what-fate-has-conceded-to-him/)

[Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/)

> [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

## More by Sophocles

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

[Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

## More Circumstances quotes

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

> [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/)

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

> [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/)

[Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/)

> [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/)

[Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/)

> [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/)

[Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/)

> [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/)

[Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/)

> [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/)

[Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/)

> [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the prudent man neglects no circumstance.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sophocles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-importance-the-prudent-man/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Circumstances"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-importance-the-prudent-man/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_circumstances_a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-imp_91892.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A trifle is often pregnant with high importance; the prudent man neglects no circumstance.” — Sophocles",
                "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": "Sophocles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A trifle is often pregnant with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-importance-the-prudent-man/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-trifle-is-often-pregnant-with-high-importance-the-prudent-man/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```