Part I. Patience. William Penn. 1909-14. Fruits of Solitude. The Harvard Classics

William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Part I

Patience


396. Patience is a Virtue every where; but it shines with great Lustre in the Men of Government.	1
397. Some are so Proud or Testy, they won’t hear what they should redress.	2
398. Others so weak, they sink or burst under the weight of their Office, though they can lightly run away with the Salary of it.	3
399. Business can never be well done, that is not well understood: Which cannot be without Patience.	4
400. It is Cruelty indeed not to give the Unhappy an Hearing, whom we ought to help: But it is the top of Oppression to Browbeat the humble and modest Miserable, when they seek Relief.	5
401. Some, it is true, are unreasonable in their Desires and Hopes: But then we should inform, not rail at and reject them.	6
402. It is therefore as great an Instance of Wisdom as a Man in Business can give, to be Patient under the Impertinencies and Contradictions that attend it.	7
403. Method goes far to prevent Trouble in Business: For it makes the Task easy, hinders Confusion, saves abundance of Time, and instructs those that have Business depending, both what to do and what to hope.	8