Have you ever noticed how many popular expressions take the form, “It’s not the … it’s the …”? I’ve collected a few that came to mind. I’m always open to more.

• “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” This tired old saw should be retired. Does anyone really want to hear this on a sultry, sweltering summer day? It only makes matters worse.
• “It’s not the feet, it’s the humility.” This spin on the previous one is unusual. It was presented to me as a way to get across the lesson of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet on what we celebrate as Maundy Thursday. This is way more acceptable than that last one. In this case, it’s always the humility.
• “It’s not you, it’s me.” No one wants to hear this, least of all George Costanza!
• “It’s not the meat, it’s the motion.” Rated PG-13!! Technically, it’s “It ain’t…” but who cares? Fifty-one years ago Maria Muldaur rocked the world with this hot little number. Pretty tame stuff by today’s standards.
• “It’s not the gift [or expense], it’s the thought that counts.” I honestly believe in this one, although it never feels true when people say it.
• “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage.” Only Indiana Jones could have sold this one such that we’re still saying it 44 years later. For those of us who aren’t Indy, it is the years.
• “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” This is an excellent addition to the list. Admittedly, I’d never heard of it before today when I was researching this post. This is often attributed to Mark Twain but, like so many other apocryphal quotes, it is not his. See this excellent explanation of its origins.

That’s all I’m aware of but it’s not the quantity, it’s the quality. At least that’s what people say.