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  3. Philosophy

Le succès est une somme de petites choses mises au point

English translation: success is an accumulation of small achievements

06:01 Oct 17, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy
French term or phrase: Le succès est une somme de petites choses mises au point
Marco Pierre White (the master chef & restaurateur) often says on his shows, "Perfection is a lot of little things done well." I was looking for the source, and came across this after a bit of Googling:

"Le succès est une somme de petites choses mises au point." (Fernand Point)

Two questions:
a. How would you render it in English?
b. Would you say that the two quotes are essentially the same?

References:
[1] There is a discussion here: http://ask.metafilter.com/109417/Help-with-a-french-translat...
[2] I've taken the quotation text from here: http://www.lacuisinedefrancoise.net/
amarpaul
India
Local time: 06:55
English translation:success is an accumulation of small achievements
Explanation:
I think it's this sort of idea


File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
an accumulation of small actions. If you think about big achievements, big achievements are an accumulation of small achievements. A little means a lot. Do The ...


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Note added at 9 hrs (2011-10-17 15:02:30 GMT)
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more freely translated in this culinary context you could say 'perfection means getting all the little details just right'
Selected response from:

ormiston
Local time: 03:25
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3success is an accumulation of small achievements
ormiston
4 +1Success is the result of small things being perfected
Tim Cleary
4 +1success is the sum of a lot of small things done correctly
mimi 254
4Success is the sum of lots of small things that are perfected.
Tim Cleary
3Success is the sum of small efforts
nweatherdon
3Sucess is the result of precision in the details.
KAJohnson


  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Success is the result of small things being perfected


Explanation:
For me, success does not necessarily mean perfection. In passing, the final words in the French ("mises au point") may be a self-referential pun on the part of Fernand Point, which would be lost in the English translation.

Tim Cleary
Local time: 02:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: But you've missed out what I feel is the key point here: that it is the sum of lots of these little things
44 mins
  -> Yes, sorry, I realise what you you are saying. Perhaps an alternative would work: "Success is the sum of lots of small things that are perfected."
agree  Verginia Ophof: agree with "sum of ..." and "perfected" for " mises au point
13 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Success is the sum of small efforts


Explanation:
It is not a precise translation, but I wonder whether it might capture what you're looking to get across. It also appears to be a relatively common expression.

nweatherdon
Canada
Native speaker of: English
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
success is the sum of a lot of small things done correctly


Explanation:

209.68.7.27/index.php/content-categories/...and.../fernand-point

www.slideshare.net/.../brief-history-of-haute-cuisine

mimi 254
Local time: 02:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kirsten Bodart: I think sum here is important and correctness too. No need for fancy words. As a plate with two perfect carrots, a small piece of perfect meat and a little bit of perfect sauce. All small things, but the sum on the plate and the menu should be good.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
success is an accumulation of small achievements


Explanation:
I think it's this sort of idea


File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
an accumulation of small actions. If you think about big achievements, big achievements are an accumulation of small achievements. A little means a lot. Do The ...


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2011-10-17 15:02:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

more freely translated in this culinary context you could say 'perfection means getting all the little details just right'

ormiston
Local time: 03:25
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: or even synthesis
57 mins
agree  Sarita Mardon
9 hrs
agree  nweatherdon: I like this one better than my suggestion
3 days 22 hrs
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1 day 11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Sucess is the result of precision in the details.


Explanation:
'Details' --- As is 'the devil is in the details.'

KAJohnson
United States
Local time: 18:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
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1 day 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Success is the sum of lots of small things that are perfected.


Explanation:
Please take this asa substitute for my previous response. Thanks.

Tim Cleary
Local time: 02:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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