"Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since"

This quote by Josh Billings is a funny way of expressing the concept that people are imperfect and have actually been making errors since the beginning of time. It suggests that human beings were produced with a specific level of excellence, however have been gradually declining ever since. This might be translated as a warning to be mindful of our actions and to pursue improvement. It might also be viewed as a reminder that we ought to not take ourselves too seriously and that we must accept our flaws and imperfections. Eventually, this quote functions as a reminder that we need to aim to be better and to gain from our errors.