Definitions HQ

Pettiness (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not born but self-made — the creature's own wretched invention, neither truly proud nor truly humble — and it distorts God too, as if He could not bear individuality.

Pettiness (n.) sticks ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠to pettiness until they grow into each other like an ingrowing nail — and calls that union true friendship.

Pettiness (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠refuted by every individuality it meets, so it feels a clammy unease at any stranger's character and demands of God that it be destroyed — as if God were petty-mindedly jealous.

Pettiness (n.) permits ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠everything when fighting for its life — but you may be sure that the everything it permits is everything petty.

The Pettiness (n.) educates ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠more than anything; it takes a great soul to save one's soul out of it — and willing is what makes the great soul.