- English translation
Even a single grain can tip the scales.
- Literal wording
A grain makes the scale heavier.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying holds that nothing is truly negligible. A single grain, tiny as it is, still adds weight when placed on a scale, so even the smallest act, contribution, or detail has some real effect on the overall result.
In practice it pushes back against dismissing small things as irrelevant. It can encourage someone to offer a little help because every bit counts, or warn that a minor slip or a slight addition may be enough to shift an outcome.
- When it is used
Use it to counter dismissive remarks such as 'it's only a little,' whether about a modest donation, a single vote, a minor kindness, or a small mistake. It works as encouragement to contribute or as a reminder that small details deserve attention.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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