A little neglect may breed mischief . . . for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost.
Source: Maxims . . . prefixed to Poor Richard's Almanac
-- Benjamin Franklin, (Jan 17 1706-1790), US statesman, diplomat, inventor, printer; He published Poor Richard's Almanac, 1732-57 ; invented bifocal glasses and the lightning rod.