"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"
- Harriet Beecher Stowe
About this Quote
This quote by Harriet Beecher Stowe talks to the importance of being great in the small things. It is easy to be heroic and worthy in grand gestures, however it is a lot more difficult to be excellent in the ordinary, daily jobs. Stowe is suggesting that this is a virtue that is so unusual that it needs to be celebrated and honored. She is emphasizing the importance of being conscious and intentional in the small minutes of life, and recognizing that greatness can be discovered in the most normal of tasks. It is a reminder to be present and to take pride in the little things, as they can typically have the greatest effect. Stowe is encouraging us to strive for greatness in all elements of life, no matter how little.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"