--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To wait is not merely to remain…" description: "\"“To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect- to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatientl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg" --- # To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to… ![“To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect- to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but not to fret at the delay; to watch for, but not restlessly; to feel that if He does come we will acquiesce, and yet to refuse to…” quote by Dr. A.B. Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg) > ““To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect- to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but not to fret at the delay; to watch for, but not restlessly; to feel that if He does come we will acquiesce, and yet to refuse to let the mind acquiesce in the feeling that He will not come.”” Dr. A.B. Davidson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Waiting involves active hope and acceptance, balancing desire with calm surrender, without becoming passive. **In simple terms:** Waiting is hopeful, not idle. Key Takeaway Cultivate patient hope while staying engaged. Themes patience hope spirituality psychology acceptance Mood contemplative hopeful steady Type patience:1 procrastination:1 psychology:1 patience submission:1 look patience:1 impassive expect:1 remain impassive:1 When to use this quote - job search - medical recovery - spiritual practice - creative projects Key Concepts mindfulness faith expectancy resilience Questions to Reflect On - What are you waiting for? - How do you stay active while waiting? A Different Perspective Excessive patience can become passivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/patience-and-submission-are-very-carefully-to-be-distinguished-from/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In regard of God, patience is a submission to His sovereignty. To endure a trial, simply because we cannot avoid or resist it, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-charnock/in-regard-of-god-patience-is-a-submission-to-his-sovereignty-to/) [Stephen Charnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-charnock/) > [Procrastination isn't patience. It's a sign of laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/procrastination-isn-t-patience-it-s-a-sign-of-laziness/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“..:Intimidation keeps us from enjoying life to its fullest. Procrastination keeps us from developing our skills. Fear paralizes us and keeps us from trying.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/intimidation-keeps-us-from-enjoying-life-to-its-fullest/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [“Idleness is seductive. Just relax and do nothing, it says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/idleness-is-seductive-just-relax-and-do-nothing-it-says/) [Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/) > [So many people wait around for the stars to align to do what they're here to do. The perfect moment, the perfect opportunity, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/so-many-people-wait-around-for-the-stars-to-align-to-do-what-they-re/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [I think that laziness in many ways is the human condition, and that's what has led us to this place where, as we've developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-think-that-laziness-in-many-ways-is-the-human-condition-and-that-s/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [Most people don't reach their goals because reaching their goals requires them to do things that they don't want to do. You might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/most-people-don-t-reach-their-goals-because-reaching-their-goals/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [“Don’t let procrastination hold you back. Every small decision counts toward your potential. Be wise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afolayan-david-ojo/don-t-let-procrastination-hold-you-back-every-small-decision-counts/) Afolayan David Ojo > [Lack of confidence, sometimes alternating with unrealistic dreams of heroic success, often leads to procrastination, and many studies suggest that procrastinators are self-handicappers: rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/lack-of-confidence-sometimes-alternating-with-unrealistic-dreams-of/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More Patience quotes > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [We're on the road 300 days a year. There's no recovery time. It's a test of your physical and mental endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-phoenix/we-re-on-the-road-300-days-a-year-there-s-no-recovery-time-it-s-a/) [Beth Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-phoenix/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Here is my procedure for a saliva test: Prepare 7 strips of pH paper. Take a baseline pH reading. Have the patient drink 10cc…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameer-rosic/here-is-my-procedure-for-a-saliva-test-prepare-7-strips-of-ph-paper/) Ameer Rosic > [“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-time-for-patience-there-is-no-time-for-diplomacy-there-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-maravich/character-never-quits-and-with-patience-and-persistence-dreams-do/) [Pete Maravich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-maravich/) > [I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-don-t-know-about-writing-it-s-quite-lonely-you-have-to-have-a-lot/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-are-few-husbands-whom-the-wife-cannot-win-in-the-long-run-by/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [God has perfect timing...Never early...never late...It takes a little patience...It takes a lot of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-has-perfect-timing-never-early-never-late-it-takes-a-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,997 Patience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect- to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but not to fret at the delay; to watch for, but not restlessly; to feel that if He does come we will acquiesce, and yet to refuse to let the mind acquiesce in the feeling that He will not come.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. A.B. Davidson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-a-b-davidson/to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassive-it-is-to-expect-to-look-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-a-b-davidson/to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassive-it-is-to-expect-to-look-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/dr-a-b-davidson-233831_patience_to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassiv_2790407.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect- to look for with patience, and also with…” — Dr. A.B. Davidson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dr. A.B. Davidson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-a-b-davidson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To wait is not merely to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-a-b-davidson/to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassive-it-is-to-expect-to-look-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-a-b-davidson/to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassive-it-is-to-expect-to-look-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```