take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves

== English == === Alternative forms === take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves === Pronunciation === === Proverb === take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves If one takes care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things. 1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500: Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ‥used to say‥Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves. 1999, ‘H. Crane’, Miss Seeton's Finest Hour, xi. 92: ‘Yes, it sounds on the melodramatic side,’ he said cheerfully, ‘but in wartime you can't be too careful about the smallest detail. Think of it as along the lines of taking care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves.’ ==== Synonyms ==== a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step many a mickle makes a muckle every little helps ==== Antonyms ==== don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish ==== Translations ====