By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Small actions can destroy large systems. Even a rat can break a dike.
- In plain terms
- Small things can destroy big nations.
- What can you take from it?
- Ignore small threats at your peril.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What small thing could break your system?
Another view
Not every small flaw leads to collapse.
More from Edmund Burke
Well is it known that ambition can creep as well as soar.
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