Drop by drop, a sea. Grain by grain, a heap.

What it means

Huge results are made of tiny amounts. No single drop or grain looks like much. Keep adding small efforts and the pile grows.

The source

"Drop by drop, a sea. Grain by grain, a heap." This Russian proverb is recorded in Dal, Proverbs of the Russian People (1862), "Much — Little" («Много — Мало»). Translated from the original Russian by Spartan Surfers.

"По капельке море, по зернышку ворох."

Original Russian, Dal, Proverbs of the Russian People (1862), "Much — Little" («Много — Мало»). Text read at ru.wikisource.org.

Who said it

Proverbs of the world (Every age). Sayings from the Latin, Greek, Norse, Japanese, Chinese and more, each traced to an old source in its own language.

Questions

What does "Drop by drop, a sea. Grain by grain, a heap." mean?

Huge results are made of tiny amounts. No single drop or grain looks like much. Keep adding small efforts and the pile grows.

Who said "Drop by drop, a sea. Grain by grain, a heap."?

Russian proverb. Source: Dal, Proverbs of the Russian People (1862), "Much — Little" («Много — Мало»).

What is the original Russian?

По капельке море, по зернышку ворох. Translated from the original Russian by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Drop by drop, a sea. Grain by grain, a heap." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Drop by drop, a sea. Grain by grain, a heap." (Russian proverb, Dal, Proverbs of the Russian People (1862), "Much — Little" («Много — Мало»), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/drop-by-drop-a-sea-grain-by-grain