"It may be so," replied the great artist, "but trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle." That infinite patience which made Michael Angelo spend a week in bringing out a muscle in a statue with more vital fidelity to truth, or Gerhard Dow a day in giving the right effect to a dewdrop on a cabbage leaf, makes all the difference between success and failure.
"Of what use is it ?" people asked with a sneer, when Franklin told of his discovery that lightning and electricity are identical.

"What is the use of a child ?" replied Franklin; "it may become a man." In the earliest days of cotton spinning, the small fibres would stick to the bobbins, and make it necessary to stop and clear the machinery.
Although this loss of time reduced the earnings of the operatives, the father of Robert Peel noticed that one of his spinners always drew full pay, as his machine never stopped.

"How is this, Dick ?" asked Mr.Peel one day; "the on-looker tells me your bobbins are always clean." "Ay, that they be," replied Dick Ferguson.

"How do you manage it, Dick ?" "Why, you see, Meester Peel," said the workman, "it is sort o' secret! If I tow'd ye, yo'd be as wise as I am." "That's so," said Mr.Peel, smiling; "but I'd give you something to know.

Could you make all the looms work as smoothly as yours ?" "Ivery one of 'em, meester," replied Dick.