Leisure and curiosity might soon make great advances in useful knowledge, were they not diverted by minute emulation and laborious trifles.
What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.
Liberalism, austere in political trifles, has learned ever more artfully to unite a constant protest against the government with a constant submission to it.
It is with trifles, and when he is off guard, that a man best reveals his character.
Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.
Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.
Seeks painted trifles and fantastic toys, and eagerly pursues imaginary joys.
It is the mark of great people to treat trifles as trifles and important matters as important.
I have been an 'Official' all my life, without the least turn for it. I never could attain a true official manner, which is highly artificial and handles trifles with ludicrously disproportionate gravity.
All our pursuits, from childhood to manhood, are only trifles of different sorts and sizes, proportioned to our years and views.