Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.

The line warns that what seem like minor feelings—irritation, longing, anxiety, tenderness—often steer our choices more powerfully than our stated principles. By calling them “great captains,” the speaker suggests emotions function like commanding officers: they set direction, determine pace, and can override rational plans, especially when we are not paying attention. The quote’s force lies in its emphasis on unconscious obedience: we may believe we act freely and logically, yet our behavior is frequently guided by subtle moods and impulses. Read this way, it is both a caution (about self-deception) and an invitation to self-knowledge: noticing small emotions can be a first step toward living more deliberately.