"By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation"

This quote by Edmund Burke is an alerting about the prospective repercussions of ignoring small issues. It recommends that even the smallest of problems can have a big effect if left unattended. The metaphor of a rat gnawing through a dike is used to show how a relatively irrelevant problem can lead to dreadful results. Burke is cautioning that if a country does not take care of its little issues, they can eventually result in its failure. This quote acts as a reminder that even the smallest of issues need to not be ignored, as they can have a big effect if left uncontrolled. It is a suggestion to take care of the little issues before they end up being larger ones. Burke's quote is a reminder that even the smallest of concerns can have a big impact if left unattended.