--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A rusted nail, placed near the faithful…" description: "\"A rusted nail, placed near the faithful compass, Will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy.\" — Walter Scott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/walter-scott-775_association_a-rusted-nail-placed-near-the-faithful-c_1069633.png" --- # A rusted nail, placed near the faithful compass, Will sway… ![“A rusted nail, placed near the faithful compass, Will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy.” quote by Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/walter-scott-775_association_a-rusted-nail-placed-near-the-faithful-c_1069633.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/walter-scott-775_association_a-rusted-nail-placed-near-the-faithful-c_1069633.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/walter-scott-775_association_a-rusted-nail-placed-near-the-faithful-c_1069633.png) > “A rusted nail, placed near the faithful compass, Will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy.” [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small distraction can mislead even the most faithful, causing great loss. **In simple terms:** Minor errors can cause major damage. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant against subtle misdirections. Themes truth distraction consequence Mood cautious serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - navigation - decision making - risk assessment - leadership Key Concepts ethics critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What distractions have you ignored? - How do you verify your compass? A Different Perspective Not all distractions are obvious; vigilance can be exhausting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Rusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rusted/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [A rusty nail placed near a faithful compass, will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/a-rusty-nail-placed-near-a-faithful-compass-will-sway-it-from-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Most women have not even been able to touch this anger, except to drive it inward like a rusted nail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/most-women-have-not-even-been-able-to-touch-this-anger-except-to/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The first story I ever sold was to 'Argosy' magazine, which no longer exists. That issue also contained work by several other more celebrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-first-story-i-ever-sold-was-to-argosy-magazine-which-no-longer/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [“...her soul rusted with that grievance sticking in it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/her-soul-rusted-with-that-grievance-sticking-in-it/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“While in England write or get wrought rotten rusted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aporva-kala/while-in-england-write-or-get-wrought-rotten-rusted/) [Aporva Kala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aporva-kala/) > [I can't write on the road. I have to be home. I have to be around all those rusted tractors and dilapidated fences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fullbright/i-can-t-write-on-the-road-i-have-to-be-home-i-have-to-be-around-all/) John Fullbright > [My life may be a rusted old book but my heart is not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knight/my-life-may-be-a-rusted-old-book-but-my-heart-is-not/) [Kevin Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knight/) > [“When was the last time she had trusted God, really rusted Him, without reservations, without a backup plan or a safety net?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-isaac/when-was-the-last-time-she-had-trusted-god-really-rusted-him-without/) Kara Isaac > [Sometimes when you think something is shiny and gold, it tends to be rusted and bronze, but that's just the way it is, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/sometimes-when-you-think-something-is-shiny-and-gold-it-tends-to-be/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [“They were not a family anymore. 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