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About this quote

What does it mean?
Patience is seen here as foolish flattery that excuses failure or laziness.
In plain terms
Being patient is sometimes just making excuses for doing nothing.
What can you take from it?
Don't confuse patience with inaction.

Where it applies

  • decision making
  • self-improvement
  • work

Putting it to work

  • act decisively
  • avoid delay
  • challenge excuses

Questions to consider

  • When is patience bad?
  • Is doing nothing ever right?

Another view

Patience is often a virtue requiring restraint.

More from Aphra Behn

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  2. Variety is the soul of pleasure.

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  3. No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.

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