--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patience is a strength, not a weakness…" description: "\"Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png" --- # Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by… ![“Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understand that our real nature is very special” quote by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png) > “Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understand that our real nature is very special” [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience is a powerful virtue that transforms conflict into understanding and reveals our true character. **In simple terms:** Patience shows strength and reveals our true self. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience to defuse hostility. Themes patience strength character Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace disputes - online debates - family disagreements Key Concepts Buddhist ethics self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice patience when provoked? - What does “real nature” mean to you? A Different Perspective Patience alone may not change others’ behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patience Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-stop-1314274/) [Patience Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-strength/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Practicing Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicing-patience-1884970/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/each-life-is-made-up-of-mistakes-and-learning-waiting-and-growing/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The enemy is the necessary condition for practicing patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-enemy-is-the-necessary-condition-for-practicing-patience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Inner Peace can be seen as the ultimate benefit of practicing patience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-lokos/inner-peace-can-be-seen-as-the-ultimate-benefit-of-practicing-patience/) [Allan Lokos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-lokos/) > [Patience, stop being so mean to me . I am so tired of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/patience-stop-being-so-mean-to-me-i-am-so-tired-of-it/) [CLARE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [Patience, stop being so mean to me now. I am so tired of it.:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/patience-stop-being-so-mean-to-me-now-i-am-so-tired-of-it/) [Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [Patience,stop being so mean to me. I am so tired of it and I am so sick of it:) so please stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/patience-stop-being-so-mean-to-me-i-am-so-tired-of-it-and-i-am-so/) [Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [You must let life flow naturally, for life’s secret is patience; you must stop pushing for change and allow things to unfold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-brown/you-must-let-life-flow-naturally-for-life-s-secret-is-patience-you/) [Leon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-brown/) > [Patience, stop being so mean to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/patience-stop-being-so-mean-to-me/) [Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [Basically, what you find out is the limits of your patience and your strength and your capacity to adapt. You find that out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/basically-what-you-find-out-is-the-limits-of-your-patience-and-your/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“Patience is Strength, Anger is Weakness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zeidan/patience-is-strength-anger-is-weakness/) [Robert Zeidan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zeidan/) > [God, give me patience, because if you give me strength I just might punch somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-give-me-patience-because-if-you-give-me-strength-i-just-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man that does not possess the willingness, patience and strength to break down a wall made of steel, does not deserve to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-that-does-not-possess-the-willingness-patience-and-strength-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Patience is the strength of the weak, impatience is the weakness of the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/patience-is-the-strength-of-the-weak-impatience-is-the-weakness-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Friendship and loyalty have patience as the strength of their connection. Feeling lonely and ignoble indicates that you haven't been patient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/friendship-and-loyalty-have-patience-as-the-strength-of-their/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride, bridles the tongue, restrains the hand and tramples upon temptations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horne/patience-strengthens-the-spirit-sweetens-the-temper-stifles-anger/) [George Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horne/) ## More by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso > [Our mental attitude transforms a situation into either a problem or an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/our-mental-attitude-transforms-a-situation-into-either-a-problem-or/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Today we can see many different forms of Buddhism, such as Zen and Theravada Buddhism. All these different aspects are practices of Buddha's teachings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/today-we-can-see-many-different-forms-of-buddhism-such-as-zen-and/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Going for refuge to Buddha,Dharma, and Sangha means that we apply effort to receiving Buddha's blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/going-for-refuge-to-buddha-dharma-and-sangha-means-that-we-apply/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is permanently free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/enlightenment-is-the-inner-light-of-wisdom-that-is-permanently-free/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. To solve the problem of anger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/anger-is-one-of-the-most-common-and-destructive-delusions-and-it/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Whenever we practise meditation, whether or not our meditation is clear, we are performing a virtuous mental action that is a cause of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/whenever-we-practise-meditation-whether-or-not-our-meditation-is/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Right now we have obtained a human rebirth and have the opportunity to attain enlightenment through Dharma practice, so if we waste this precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/right-now-we-have-obtained-a-human-rebirth-and-have-the-opportunity/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Since inner peace is the source of all happiness, we can see how important meditation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/since-inner-peace-is-the-source-of-all-happiness-we-can-see-how/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [I have not met one living being that has not been the mother of all the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/i-have-not-met-one-living-being-that-has-not-been-the-mother-of-all/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [All objects whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, are mere appearances to the mind just like things experienced in a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/all-objects-whether-pleasant-unpleasant-or-neutral-are-mere/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [When a jealous person sees signs of other people's success and good fortune, his heart is pierced with envy. But someone who has learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/when-a-jealous-person-sees-signs-of-other-people-s-success-and-good/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [This impure world that we presently experience exists only in relation to our impure mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/this-impure-world-that-we-presently-experience-exists-only-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [The cause of happiness and the solution to our problems do not lie in knowledge of material things. Happiness and suffering are states of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/the-cause-of-happiness-and-the-solution-to-our-problems-do-not-lie-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [The more we want certain situations, the more we find ourself stuck in situations we do not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/the-more-we-want-certain-situations-the-more-we-find-ourself-stuck-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [“someone places a toy rubber snake in our room, the first time we see it we may believe that it is a real snake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/someone-places-a-toy-rubber-snake-in-our-room-the-first-time-we-see/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) [Explore all 92 Geshe Kelsang Gyatso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understand that our real nature is very special", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-and-if-by-practicing-patience/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-and-if-by-practicing-patience/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_criticism_patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-an_433923.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and…” — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso", "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": "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Patience is a strength, not a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-and-if-by-practicing-patience/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/patience-is-a-strength-not-a-weakness-and-if-by-practicing-patience/#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 } } ] } ```