Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Les détails font la perfection et la perfection n'est pas un détail
English translation:
"Trifles make perfection, and (but) perfection is no trifle" (Michaelangelo)
Added to glossary by
Charlotte Allen
Jun 7, 2006 05:45
17 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term
United Kingdom
Les détails font la perfection et la perfection n'est pas un détail
French to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
De Vinci quote
I can't find an "official" translation for this quote attributed to Leonardo de Vinci.
I can't help thinking of "God is in the details"...but "perfection is in the details" puts the sentence off-balance. Any thoughts?
BTW, the context is that this is a heading for a description of the manufacturing services of a company, including the manufacture of various jewellery items.
I can't help thinking of "God is in the details"...but "perfection is in the details" puts the sentence off-balance. Any thoughts?
BTW, the context is that this is a heading for a description of the manufacturing services of a company, including the manufacture of various jewellery items.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
19 mins
Maranda Horning
Native in English
Specializes in field
MA Translation, Grammar Fanatic, Use TM
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
"Trifles make perfection, and (but) perfection is no trifle"
I mainly did a search on Google for any initial translations in French, but I also ended up typing in some Italian and my literal translation for the phrase, and I found one site that translated it as the above. I then typed the above translation in and got a lot of hits for that quote by Da Vinci in English. I'm guessing that's probably the official translation...hope that's the one you're looking for!
The website below actually attributes the quote to Michelangelo.
The website below actually attributes the quote to Michelangelo.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Julie Barber
: yes most of the sites I've seen are attributing it to Michelangelo
12 mins
|
| agree |
suezen
13 mins
|
| agree |
Assimina Vavoula
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Najib Aloui
3 hrs
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| agree |
Gina W
18 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for. And I added a note to the client explaining (tactfully) that although many French sources attribute this quote to Da Vinci, an overwhelming majority of English sources (and some French) attribute it to Michaelangelo."
20 mins
Michele Fauble
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Native English
Native in: English 
Works in: Norwegian to English, Danish to English, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
11
"Perfection is in the/composed of many details, but perfection is not a detail"
The philosophy of our house. "Perfection is composed of many details, but perfection is not a detail" Leonardo da Vinci
www.alpenstadt.com/montana/hotel/druck.asp?idsp=3&idart=299
Our motto "Perfection is in the Details" is not just an empty slogan for us—it is our way of doing business. ...
www.koetsierranch.com/Perfection.html
www.alpenstadt.com/montana/hotel/druck.asp?idsp=3&idart=299
Our motto "Perfection is in the Details" is not just an empty slogan for us—it is our way of doing business. ...
www.koetsierranch.com/Perfection.html
20 mins
Jeffrey Lewis
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
academic and scientific translations
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
24
The details make a thing perfect, but perfection is not a detail
You want to preserve the ABBA 'chiasmus' structure.
There's a somewhat similar quote from Spinoza: "The more we know individual things, the more we know God"
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Note added at 22 mins (2006-06-07 06:07:21 GMT)
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Boy, you folks are FAST.
There's a somewhat similar quote from Spinoza: "The more we know individual things, the more we know God"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2006-06-07 06:07:21 GMT)
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Boy, you folks are FAST.
26 mins
detail makes for perfection yet perfection is not (merely) a detail
suggestion in the absence of finding the quote!
53 mins
Perfection is not in any detail, but in the combination of details
Hello,
This is how I'd say it.
I have seen a literal translation of this quote before, but I don't think there is a set translation for it. It's up to the translator to decide!
I hope this helps.
This is how I'd say it.
I have seen a literal translation of this quote before, but I don't think there is a set translation for it. It's up to the translator to decide!
I hope this helps.
Discussion