take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things. 1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500: Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ‥used to say‥Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.