A detail is a small part of a bigger thing, and small parts matter less — except that the proverb says they matter most. Derived from the compass at the base of the foundation, the word turns out to be reporting on an axis that has no size in it, which is why the two proverbs were not rivals, why “how much detail is enough” has no answer in the form it is asked, and why looking harder will not supply one. … readWhat Is a Detail