One small step
Meaning
This phrase refers to an initial, often modest action or achievement that serves as the crucial beginning of a much larger, more significant endeavor.
Origin
On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon. As he descended the ladder of the Apollo 11 lunar module and planted his boot onto the lunar surface, he uttered the immortal words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." This declaration, broadcast live to an estimated 600 million people worldwide, immediately transformed a singular action into a universal symbol of monumental progress, boundless human ambition, and the dawn of a new era of exploration, forever embedding itself into the global lexicon.
Examples
- Launching the new community garden was just one small step, but it promised to blossom into something truly beautiful for the neighborhood.
- While the initial funding was one small step towards global clean energy, the journey ahead remained long and challenging.