#patience

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Does it pass you by? Do not stop it. Is it not yet come? Do not stretch your desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you.

Practice not to be hurried away by the appearance; make delay, and you will more easily become master of yourself.

No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time.

Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. Why do you wish to grasp the fruit before its season?

Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.

Count the days on which you have not been angry: 'I used to be angry every day; now every other day; then every third and fourth day.' If you have passed thirty days, offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

Who can wait quietly while the mud settles? Who can remain still until the right action arises by itself?

He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far.

There is a time for being ahead, a time for being behind; a time for being in motion, a time for being at rest.

Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.

It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Your soul has its own timing. Be patient with its ripening.

To be self-controlled, patient, and content with simple things is the true nobility of the philosopher.

For one swallow does not make a spring, nor does one sunny day; and so too one day or a short time does not make a man blessed and happy.

Even in the midst of misfortunes, nobility of soul shines forth when a man bears many heavy burdens with calm patience, not from lack of feeling, but from greatness of heart.

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.

Refuse to express a passion, and it dies. Count ten before venting your anger, and its occasion seems ridiculous.

Slowly, slowly, O mind, everything in its own time happens. The gardener may water with a hundred pots, but fruit arrives only in season.

Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.

Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all, love.

Do not figure out big plans at first, but begin slowly, resolve upon your ground, and then keep on expanding.

Do not look back, look forward! Infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience—then alone can great deeds be accomplished.