The devil
Posted by ESC on March 14, 2000
In Reply to: The devil is in the details posted by A. Petersen on March 14, 2000
: I looked this up on this website but it didn't day what it meant. If anyone does know what this phrase means, or just has an idea to its meaning, please let me know. I'm sure it's real simple. I just can't think of anything that really makes sense to me.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS - The Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996) shows this phrase as a variation of "God is in the details - Whatever one does should be done thoroughly; details are important. The saying is generally attributed to Gustave Flaubert (1821-80), who is often quoted as saying, 'Le bon Dieu est dans le detail' (God is in the details). Other attributions include Michelangelo, the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the art historian Aby Warburg. 'The Devil is in the details' is a variant of the proverb, referring to a catch hidden in the details. 'Governing is in the details''and 'The truth, if it exists, is in the details' are recent variants. Listed as an anonymous saying in the sixteenth edition of Barlett's 'Familiar Quotations,' edited by Justin Kaplan."
- The devil Frankie 03/14/00
- The devil A. Petersen 03/16/00