--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be…" description: "\"I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended, and patient when there be no redress.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/elizabeth-montagu-28035_being-wise_i-endeavor-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot-be-m_2225930.png" --- # I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I… ![“I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended, and patient when there be no redress.” quote by Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/elizabeth-montagu-28035_being-wise_i-endeavor-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot-be-m_2225930.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/elizabeth-montagu-28035_being-wise_i-endeavor-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot-be-m_2225930.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/elizabeth-montagu-28035_being-wise_i-endeavor-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot-be-m_2225930.png) > “I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended, and patient when there be no redress.” [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing wisdom with emotional states, accepting limits, and practicing patience when justice is absent. **In simple terms:** Seek wisdom, accept limits, be patient. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience and realistic acceptance. Themes wisdom acceptance patience emotional balance Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - unfair situations - health challenges - career obstacles Key Concepts Stoicism virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you act wisely while feeling constrained? - What limits can you accept without resentment? A Different Perspective Patience alone may not change unjust circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Easy Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-glad-4987775/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Endeavor Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor-wise-4987773/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Merry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry/) [Merry Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry-easy-4987774/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Redress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redress/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Merry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-merry-1466979/) ## Related quotes > [I endeavor to drink deep of philosophy, and to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-endeavor-to-drink-deep-of-philosophy-and-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The world I believe is far too serious, and being far too serious ... it has need of a wise and merry philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/the-world-i-believe-is-far-too-serious-and-being-far-too-serious-it/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [The whole Renaissance tradition is antipethic to me. 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More by Elizabeth Montagu > [I often think that those people are the happiest who know nothing at all of the world, and sitting in the little empire of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-often-think-that-those-people-are-the-happiest-who-know-nothing-at/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I always wish to find great virtues where there are great talents, and to love what I admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-always-wish-to-find-great-virtues-where-there-are-great-talents-and/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The only thing one can do one day one did not do the day before is to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-only-thing-one-can-do-one-day-one-did-not-do-the-day-before-is-to/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [You will find many a creature by earth, air, and water, that is more beautiful than a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/you-will-find-many-a-creature-by-earth-air-and-water-that-is-more/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The muses crown virtue when fortune refuses to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-muses-crown-virtue-when-fortune-refuses-to-do-it/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Our collection of men is very antique, they stand in my list thus: A man of sense, a little rusty, a beau a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/our-collection-of-men-is-very-antique-they-stand-in-my-list-thus-a/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I never invite idiots to my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-never-invite-idiots-to-my-house/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [She kindly laments that I am not of the party, and to be sure I honour great ladies, and I admire great wits, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/she-kindly-laments-that-i-am-not-of-the-party-and-to-be-sure-i-honour/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [it is more to my personal happiness and advantage to indulge the love and admiration of excellence, than to cherish a secret envy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/it-is-more-to-my-personal-happiness-and-advantage-to-indulge-the-love/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [To judge therefore of Shakespeare by Aristotle's rule is like trying a man by the Laws of one Country who acted under those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/to-judge-therefore-of-shakespeare-by-aristotle-s-rule-is-like-trying/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Any wife will save you from purgatory, and a diligent one will secure heaven to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/any-wife-will-save-you-from-purgatory-and-a-diligent-one-will-secure/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Not to be miserable is all some people are capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/not-to-be-miserable-is-all-some-people-are-capable-of/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [The outrages of the powerful, the insolence of the rich, scorn of the proud, and malice of the uncharitable, all beating against the broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/the-outrages-of-the-powerful-the-insolence-of-the-rich-scorn-of-the/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [I endeavor to drink deep of philosophy, and to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/i-endeavor-to-drink-deep-of-philosophy-and-to-be-wise-when-i-cannot/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) > [Wit in women is apt to have bad consequences; like a sword without a scabbard, it wounds the wearer and provokes assailants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-montagu/wit-in-women-is-apt-to-have-bad-consequences-like-a-sword-without-a/) [Elizabeth Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) [Explore all 20 Elizabeth Montagu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-montagu/) ## 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It was to hate nothing and to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/to-be-wise-was-to-be-above-joy-and-sorrow-fear-and-pity-ambition-and/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I feel I want to be wise with white hair in a tall library in a deep chair by a fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-corso/i-feel-i-want-to-be-wise-with-white-hair-in-a-tall-library-in-a-deep/) [Gregory Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-corso/) > [Were anyone wondering how Sen. Harry Reid intended to manage life in the minority, it took one day of the 114th Congress to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-strassel/were-anyone-wondering-how-sen-harry-reid-intended-to-manage-life-in/) [Kimberley Strassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-strassel/) > [If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying, learning community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-moreland/if-we-are-going-to-be-wise-spiritual-people-prepared-to-meet-the/) [J.P. 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