When ambitious desires arise in thy heart, recall the days of extremity thou have passed through. Forbearance is the root of all quietness and assurance forever.
Ieyasu TokugawaRead
The strong manly ones in life are those who understand the meaning of the word patience. Patience means restraining one's inclinations. There are seven emotions: joy, anger, anxiety, adoration, grief, fear, and hate, and if a man does not give way to these he can be called patient. I am not as strong as I might be, but I have long known and practiced patience. And if my descendants wish to be as I am, they must study patience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Patience is a mark of strength and self-restraint in the face of emotions.
In this quote, Ieyasu Tokugawa emphasizes the virtue of patience as essential to personal strength and mastery over oneself. He identifies patience not merely as a passive waiting but as an active engagement in controlling one's emotions, suggesting that true strength comes from understanding and managing one's feelings rather than succumbing to them. Tokugawa underscores the importance of this trait for future generations, indicating that mastering patience is crucial for personal development and resilience in life.
Themes
PatienceStrengthEmotionsSelf-RestraintWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership seminar, to encourage team members to remain calm during stressful projects.
More from Ieyasu Tokugawa
All quotes →Forbearance is the root of quietness and assurance forever.
Ieyasu TokugawaRead
Persuade thyself that imperfection and inconvenience are the natural lot of mortals, and there will be no room for discontent, neither for despair.
Ieyasu TokugawaRead
Let thy step be slow and steady, that thou stumble not.
Ieyasu TokugawaRead
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