Every man must patiently bide his time. He must wait—not in listless idleness but in constant, steady, cheerful endeavors, always willing and fulfilling and accomplishing his task, that when the occasion comes he may be equal to the occasion.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
All things come to him who waits—provided he knows what he is waiting for.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Our patience will achieve more than our force.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Patience is so like fortitude that she seems either her sister or her daughter.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience.
Because of impatience we are driven out of Paradise;
because of impatience we cannot return.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
If I’m not back in five minutes… just wait longer!
—Jim Carrey (b.1962) Canadian Actor, Comedian, Producer
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 must first have a lot of patience to learn to have patience.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of his soul.—Men must not turn bees, and kill themselves in stinging others.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
Patience! why, it is the soul of peace; of all the virtues, it is nearest kin to heaven; it makes men look like gods. The best of men that ever wore earth about him was a sufferer,—a soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit; the first true gentleman that ever breathed.
—Thomas Dekker
I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
The patience of the hunter is always greater than that of the prey.
—Common Proverb
Patient endurance attends to all things.
—Teresa of Avila (1515–82) Spanish Carmelite Nun, Mystic
Patience is the key to joy.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Time brings all things to pass.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
How poor are they that have not patience? What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Always be patient with the rich and powerful.
—Spanish Proverb
He who wishes to be rich in a day will be hanged in a year.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Architect
Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
With close-lipped Patience for our only friend, Sad Patience, too near neighbor to Despair.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
Patience makes lighter what sorrow may not heal.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Like farmers we need to learn that we cannot sow and reap the same day.
—Unknown
Hope and patience are two sovereign remedies for all, the surest reposals, the softest cushions to lean on in adversity.
—Robert Burton (1577–1640) English Scholar, Clergyman
A wise husband and a patient wife equal a peaceful home and a happy life.
—Dutch Proverb
Patience can’t be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it.
—Eknath Easwaran (1910–99) Indian Meditation Teacher, Spiritual Author
The sincere and earnest approach of the Christian to the throne of the Almighty, teaches the best lesson of patience under affliction, since wherefore should we mock the Deity with supplications, when we insult him by murmuring under his decrees?
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Who longest waits most surely wins.
—Helen Hunt Jackson (1830–85) American Novelist, Civil Rights Activist
Heaven grant us patience with a man in love.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Writer, Poet, Novelist, Short Story Author
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