This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. Tristen Bonacci is an English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix.
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Tempted to use the idiom "the devil is in the details," but want to make sure you get it just right? To help you play innocent like you've known how to drop it in a discussion all along, we'll give you a thorough run-down. Not only will we tell you what "the devil is in the details" means, but we'll also reveal its origins. Then, we'll share examples of different situations where you can use it. Finally, we'll review some variations of this phrase. Here, you'll get into the nitty gritty of "the devil is in the details" and master this expression!
Things You Should Know
- "The devil is in the details" refers to situations that seem simple at first but actually have important details you need to take into account.
- The phrase "the devil is in the details" became popular between 1821 and 1969. It was even featured in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations in 1969.
- You can say "the devil is in the details" in business settings, but you can also use it in casual conversations.
- There are variations on the idiom "the devil is in the details," like "God is in the details," or "the devil is in the details — so are the angels."
Steps
Origin
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”The devil is in the details” evolved from the phrase “God is in the details.” Somewhere between 1821 and 1969, the phrase “God is in the details" became popularized. This saying indicates that hard work and discipline is required for any project. It might’ve been first used in a college seminar by art historian Aby Warburg, who was born in 1866 and lived until 1929.[1] However, the phrase is widely attributed to German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, whose life spanned from 1886 to 1969.[2]
- The New York Times cited Ludwig Mies' iconic expression in his obituary, which might've caused a surge in its usage.
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In 1963, “the devil is in the details” was used to discuss rebuilding Europe after WWII. After World War II, Foreign Ministers met in Europe to make important decisions about how to enter negotiations and assist countries devastated by invasion. Richard Maynard wrote an account of this committee meeting in 1963 and noted that all the officials had to remember that “the devil is in the details.”[3]
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In 1965, “the devil is in the details” was accepted as a proverb by Newsweek. In its 65th volume, the magazine called this expression a "proverb," a popularly used phrase that provides a piece of advice. This publication might've promoted "the devil is in the details" enough that it entered everyday conversation from the mid-60's to today.[4]
- In 1969, "the devil is in the details" was also listed in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations.[5]
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/memorymetaphorab00john/page/44/mode/2up
- ↑ https://poemanalysis.com/proverb/the-devil-is-in-the-details/
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/communityofeurop00mayn/page/92/mode/2up
- ↑ Newsweek. Vol. 65, no. 1. Newsweek Inc. 1965. p. 173.
- ↑ Bartlett, John (November 2002). Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (17th ed.). Little, Brown and Company.
- ↑ https://learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1580/project-management-the-devil-is-in-the-details
- ↑ https://idiomation.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/the-devil-is-in-the-details/
- ↑ https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/black-bird/black-bird-episode-5-review-disturbing
- ↑ https://www.planetclaire.tv/quotes/psych/season-four/the-devils-in-the-details-and-the-upstairs-bedroom/