Conscience In Little Things

He that is careful in little things rises every day a step higher
Scrupulous people are often laughed at for their scruples. "Why be so particular?" gay and giddy ones ask. "Why be so conscientious about mere trifles? Why be so exacting and punctilious in the doing of small duties?" The answer is that in the matter of right and wrong nothing is little; certainly nothing is insignificant. Duty is duty, whether it be the smallest or the greatest matter. He is on the highway to nobleness of character who has learned to be scrupulous concerning the smallest things. He that is careful in little things rises every day a step higher. He who is faithful in little things is then intrusted with larger responsibilities. It is the units in life that are most important. Look after the little units and the greater aggregates will be right. Make the minutes beautiful and the hours and days will be radiant.

"Trifles make perfection," replied the artist to one who asked him why he spent so much time in giving the little finishing-touches to his statue. There can be no perfection in any kind of workmanship unless attention be paid to the minutest details, the merest trifles of construction or finishing. One smallest flaw or incompleteness left in the work, in any part of it, leaves a blemish on the finished endeavour. Life is a mosaic and each smallest stone must be polished and set with greatest care or the piece will not at last be perfect. One whose daily life is careless is always weak in character. But one who habitually walks in right paths, no matter how small and apparently trifling the things may be, grows strong and noble. Trifles make perfection.


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