"It is not the straining for great things that is most effective; it is the doing the little things, the common duties, a little better and better"
- Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
About this Quote
This quote by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps talks to the power of small, consistent actions. It recommends that pursuing greatness is not the most efficient method to attain success. Rather, it is the dedication to doing the little, daily jobs a little better each time that will lead to the best outcomes. This idea is echoed in the popular stating, "Rome wasn't built in a day." It takes time and effort to develop something excellent, and it is the little, constant actions that will get you there. This quote motivates us to concentrate on the small, everyday jobs and to make every effort to do them much better each time. It is through these little, constant actions that we can accomplish fantastic things.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"