There are different versions. Here is one. For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a nail. When I was in grade school, I learned that this proverb referred to the death of Richard III of England at the battle of Bosworth Field. It was presented to us to teach the importance of paying attention to little details.

Also: For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the king was lost. For want of a king the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a nail.

是一样的。不过这个故事据说是出自西方某个国家的，所以想了解下英语怎么说。很有意思，不是吗？

我不知道这个说法是不是出自英文，我觉得不象 我觉得The Butterfly Effect 蝴蝶效应 与这个有点类似。