To be able to wait for something without becoming frustrated is a valuable character trait.
The first known recording of this expression is in Piers Plowman, a narrative poem believed to have been written by William Langland between 1360 and 1387. It is similar to the Latin expression, maxima enim, patientia virtus (patience is the greatest virtue).
Around the same time or shortly after Piers Plowman, Chaucer wrote in The Canterbury Tales that "Patience is a high virtue... but virtue can hurt you." (The Franklin's Tale)
Alphabetical list of expressions
Challenge yourself with BookBrowse Wordplays
The Blind Light
by Stuart Evers
A multigenerational story about two families bound together by the tides of history.
Reader Reviews
The author of Orphan Train returns with an ambitious, emotionally resonant historical novel.
About the book
Return to Gilead with Jack, the instant New York Times bestseller
Enter to win Marilynne Robinson's latest novel in her classic series.
Visitors can view some of BookBrowse for free. Full access is for members only.
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
