We’ve all heard that idiom/saying, “the devil is in the detail”. And, we know it means important-troublesome things lurk in the details.

Wikipedia tells us that idiom/saying derives from a predecessor idiom/saying, “God is in the detail”, which [according to Wikipedia] means - whatever one does should be done thoroughly; i.e. details are important.

I believe that fascinating fellow James Allen would agree, “God is in the detail”. That would be consistent with his views about work mastery and bliss.

On the other hand, for some reason the saying - “God is in the detail” - was replaced with the current saying, “the devil is in the detail”.

Perhaps, when it comes to sticky idioms, sooner or later the pessimists out-muscle the optimists and positive messages are submerged in negative messages.

Regardless, it seems to me most people have a love-hate relationship with “the details”.

Some related points…

• Most people love certain details and hate other details.
• Many people feel work-details should be delegated down the hierarchy.
• Many people believe positions of power & authority provide excuses for detail avoidance.
• Many people who side-step the details expect others to delve into those same details.
• Perfectionists have a troubled & tangled relationship with “the details”.
• 24 centuries ago an ancient Greek fellow named Euripides said, "Leave no stone unturned." Evidently, he was all for digging into the details. And, that saying has survived the test of time.
• A century ago, in his classic 'Pushing To The Front', Orison Swett Marden wrote, "Go to the bottom of your business if you would climb to the top. Nothing is small which concerns your business. Master every detail."
• More recently Steve Jobs said, "This is what customers pay us for - to sweat all these details so it's easy and pleasant for them to use our computers."