Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Trifle
Think nought a trifle, though it small appear;
Small sands the mountain, moments make the year.
Dr. Young.—Satire VI. Line 205.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other revels.
Shakespeare.—Pericles, Act II. Scene 3. (Simonides to the Knights.)
A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles.
Shakespeare.—Winter’s Tale, Act IV. Scene 2. (Autolycus.)
Trifles, light as air,
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ.
Shakespeare.—Othello, Act III. Scene 3. (Iago, after he has obtained the handkerchief.)