Patience – Concept, forms of patience and phrases


We explain what patience is and why it is considered a value. Also, some phrases about this human capacity.

patience
Patience allows you to endure annoying, irritating or adversity situations.

What is patience?

It is known as patience to the human ability to endure or tolerate annoying, irritating or adversity situations in order to achieve a desired goal, or to do so in a desired way.

Patient people could in this way endure external conditions with equanimous spirit, that is, controlling their emotions and knowing how to wait or persevering in their behavior.

The term patience comes from Latin, especially from the word pati (“To suffer”), inherited from the Greek pathos. Hence, he is related to a (hospital) patient: “the one who suffers.” Perhaps that is why Christianity assumes it as one of its virtues of the spirit, since this early religion valued the suffering of the body as a way of elevation towards God.

However, patience is a common trait among personalities held as ripe or illuminated, not only in the western tradition, but in the eastern ones. Zen Buddhism often depicts its wise men as infinitely patient, free from the urges and outrages of youth or ignorance.

Patience is often interpreted as ability to wait for things to happen, without anticipating or becoming excessively anguished, but it should not in that sense be confused with comfort, depression or apathy.

Patience is, unlike these, an active posture in the face of the events that you want to occur. The opposite of patience is impatience, that is, haste, haste, despair.

Patience as a value

Patience has been considered a value by various human cultural traditions, and today it is considered a trait of every mature personality. However, patience can be appreciated in different ways and in different situations:

  • Patience as perseverance. The talent to resist in situations of slowness, oppression or prolonged waiting, such as bureaucratic procedures, waiting rooms at the doctor or the delay of a means of transport, is one of the main forms of patience. Patient people do not despair when faced with these situations, and they understand that getting frustrated and leaving the race early will not lead to crossing the finish line. Instead, sticking with their mission despite the annoyance of the wait will eventually give them what they’re after.
  • Patience as tolerance. Another valuable form of patience is that which is exhibited in the face of irritating, annoying or contrary behaviors of other individuals. Instead of raging, getting upset, or getting into useless fights, which usually don’t solve anything, patient people can tolerate dissent, let others express themselves despite disagreeing, or even wait for the right moment to give their opinion. time. In this way, patience can also lead to assertiveness.
  • Patience as self-control. Another emblematic case of patience is when we are forced to put off something we want very much, when information is not immediately revealed or we are in a stressful, violent or terrifying situation. Patience can then be imposed as a method and allow us to arrive with a cool head on the best path towards our goal. That is, patience can consist of waiting for the perfect moment to undertake a desired action.

Phrases about patience

Some phrases and proverbs related to patience can be the following:

  • Anything can be achieved through perseverance and patience.
  • Patience is the way to wisdom.
  • The fruit of bitter patience is sweet.
  • Whoever is a master at patience can be at anything else.
  • Patience is concentrated strength.
  • The best is made to wait.
  • God’s time is perfect.
  • Not by much getting up early it dawns earlier.
  • Easy comes, easy goes.
  • Patience is hope with a lit lamp.
  • Rome was not conquered in a day.
  • Drop by drop the glass is filled.
  • Little by little you go far.
  • Drop by drop, the water drills into the stone.
  • Patience is the art of hope.