“The devil is in the details” means that small details can make a task difficult or challenging. It can be used to caution or excuse mistakes. Attention to detail is important in science, contracts, and life to avoid surprises and gain a reputation for being attentive and thoughtful.
The slang term “the devil is in the details” has several meanings. All meanings of the term boil down to the fact that it is often the little details of something that make it difficult or challenging. These details can prolong a business or foil an otherwise straightforward negotiation. Like many proverbs involving the devil, it’s meant to sound a note of caution. It can also be used to excuse or explain the blurring of an otherwise very simple project or task.
In a sense, one could say “the devil is in the details” to refer to very small but ultimately important components of a larger task. For example, performing a scientific experiment in a laboratory is an extremely complex task which can sometimes be very dangerous. A small mistake in the beginning can result in a useless experiment in the end, so experimenters are reminded that the devil is in the details. This memo is meant to encourage scientists to check their work and to be thorough and careful in the laboratory.
In some cases, this sense will be used to explain why a task took longer than expected. Some might say they predicted a shorter completion time, not realizing that the devil is in the details. People generally use the proverb as an excuse in this sense, when trying to defuse anger over being late. The implied argument is that not paying attention to these details could unleash the devil, ultimately causing more work.
Some people also say the devil is in the details when reviewing a contract or agreement. Overall, the deal seems reasonable at first glance, but a closer look at the terms and small print reveals a problem. People who sign such deals regularly usually learn to scrutinize them, looking for the snag or problem that could ultimately make the deal untenable. This attention to detail is the hallmark of lawyers and accountants in particular.
Taking care of the small details in life is generally a good practice, as it greatly reduces the risk of surprises. While some surprises are pleasant, those planned by the devil generally aren’t, so it’s worth avoiding accidents that can be prevented by remembering that the devil is in the details. This behavior is often rewarded by the world at large as well, as you’ll gain a reputation for being attentive and thoughtful, as well as hard to fool.
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