There is one form of hope which is never unwise, and which certainly does not diminish with the increase of knowledge. In that form it changes its name, and we call it patience.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Patience means self-suffering.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
Your three best doctors are faith, time, and patience.
—Unknown
All’s well in the end, if you’ve only the patience to wait.
—Francois Rabelais (1494–1553) French Humanist, Satirist
Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off.
—Unknown
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Time, in the turning-over of days, works change for better or worse.
—Pindar (c.518–c.438 BCE) Greek Lyric Poet
I waited and waited, and when no message came, I knew it must be from you.
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
In all evils which admit a remedy, impatience should be avoided, because it wastes that time and attention in complaints which, if properly applied, might remove the cause.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The cart before the horse is neither beautiful nor useful.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Successful salesman, authors, executives and workmen of every sort need patience. The great liability of youth is not inexperience but impatience.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Come what may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The secret of patience… to do something else in the meantime.
—Unknown
A patient man is one who can put up with himself.
—Unknown
Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things—with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.
—Corazon Aquino (1933–2009) Filipino Stateswoman
Accustom yourself to that which you bear ill, and you will bear it well.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Time bears away all things, even the mind.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Patience makes lighter what sorrow may not heal.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
With close-lipped Patience for our only friend, Sad Patience, too near neighbor to Despair.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
Humility is attentive patience.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Serene I fold my hands and wait.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
Patience and fortitude conquer all things.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience.
—W. B. Prescott
Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
The greatest power is often simple patience.
—E. Joseph Cossman
Patience is a remedy for every sorrow.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Patience is a minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
The patience of the hunter is always greater than that of the prey.
—Common Proverb
To lose patience is to lose the battle.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Patience: A minor form of despair disguised as a virtue.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
On the whole, it is patience which makes the final difference between those who succeed or fail in all things. All the greatest people have it in an infinite degree, and among the less, the patient weak ones always conquer the impatient strong.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
It’s easy finding reasons why other folks should be patient.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Patience is even more rarely manifested in the intellect than it is in the temper.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
The little that is completed, vanishes from the sight of one who looks forward to what is still to do.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Job was not so miserable in his sufferings as happy in his patience.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The general order of things that takes care of fleas and moles also takes care of men, if they will have the same patience that fleas and moles have, to leave it to itself.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
Sometimes it helps to know that I just can’t do it all. One step at a time is all that’s possible—even when those steps are taken on the run.
—Anne Wilson Schaef (1934–2020) American Clinical Psychologist
There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in succession. That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which grows slowly, endures.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow—that is patience.
—Unknown
Patience is a most necessary qualification for business; many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request. One must seem to hear the unreasonable demands of the petulant, unmoved, and the tedious details of the dull, untired. That is the least price that a man must pay for a high station.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Wisely and slow;—they stumble that run fast.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
It does not matter how many tumbles you have in this life, so long as you do not get dirty when you tumble; it is only the people who have to stop to be washed and made clean, who must necessarily lose the race. And I can assure you that there is the greatest practical benefit in making a few failures early in life. You learn that which is of inestimable importance.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
Have patient and the mulberry leaf will become satin.
—Spanish Proverb
Many a man thinks he is patient when, in reality, he is indifferent.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher