--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Have patience . . . It is difficult to…" description: "\"“Have patience . . . It is difficult to get people to understand that the ideal doesn't exist, that personal equilibrium and the harmony they dream of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/jean-vanier-3367_holy-spirit_have-patience-it-is-difficult-to-get-peo_2422838.png" --- # Have patience . . . It is difficult to get people to… ![“Have patience . . . It is difficult to get people to understand that the ideal doesn't exist, that personal equilibrium and the harmony they dream of comes only after years and years of struggle, and even then only as flashes of grace and peace. Loving is not only a voluntary act which involves…” quote by Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/jean-vanier-3367_holy-spirit_have-patience-it-is-difficult-to-get-peo_2422838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/jean-vanier-3367_holy-spirit_have-patience-it-is-difficult-to-get-peo_2422838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cca/jean-vanier-3367_holy-spirit_have-patience-it-is-difficult-to-get-peo_2422838.png) > ““Have patience . . . It is difficult to get people to understand that the ideal doesn't exist, that personal equilibrium and the harmony they dream of comes only after years and years of struggle, and even then only as flashes of grace and peace. Loving is not only a voluntary act which involves controlling and overcoming our own sensibilities - that is just the beginning. It also demands a purified heart and feelings which go out spontaneously to the other. These deep purifications can only come through a gift of God, a grace which springs from the deepest part of ourselves, where the Holy Spirit lives. "I will give them a new heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19).”” [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth requires patience, struggle, and divine grace, leading to a transformed heart and selfless love. **In simple terms:** Spiritual transformation needs effort, grace, and a pure heart. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience and openness to divine grace. Themes spirituality patience grace love transformation Mood reflective inspirational Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - community service - faith practice Key Concepts inner work faith selflessness divine assistance Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice patience in spiritual growth? - What actions reflect a heart of flesh? A Different Perspective Grace may be elusive without sincere seeking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Holy spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-spirit/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [God loves the heart, not the flesh. If you put your flesh in your heart instead of God, you put yourself in Hell. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-loves-the-heart-not-the-flesh-if-you-put-your-flesh-in-your-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you yield yourself up to His divine working, the Lord will alter your nature; He will subdue the old nature, and breathe new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/if-you-yield-yourself-up-to-his-divine-working-the-lord-will-alter/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/a-new-heart-will-i-give-you-and-a-new-spirit-will-i-put-within-you/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Sathya, Dharma, Shanghai and prema are the hall-marks of a purified heart, a heart where God is enshrined and is manifest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/sathya-dharma-shanghai-and-prema-are-the-hall-marks-of-a-purified/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Faith induces one to pray.Prayer purifies the heart.In the purified heart is reflected the light of Lord.When the Light sighns the mortal becomes immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/faith-induces-one-to-pray-prayer-purifies-the-heart-in-the-purified/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [My flesh and my heart may fail, but god is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/my-flesh-and-my-heart-may-fail-but-god-is-the-strength-of-my-heart/) Unkown > [The flesh is at the heart of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/the-flesh-is-at-the-heart-of-the-world/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [But now, you are twain, you are cloven apart Flesh of his flesh, but heart of my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/but-now-you-are-twain-you-are-cloven-apart-flesh-of-his-flesh-but/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [“When you move so quickly from innocence to a world of fear, pain and loss, it's as if the flesh of your heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/when-you-move-so-quickly-from-innocence-to-a-world-of-fear-pain-and/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [“One flesh, one heart, one soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/one-flesh-one-heart-one-soul/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“But now, you are twain, you are cloven apart, Flesh of his flesh, but heart of my heart; And deep in one is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/but-now-you-are-twain-you-are-cloven-apart-flesh-of-his-flesh-but-2/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/i-will-give-you-a-new-heart-and-put-a-new-spirit-within-you-i-will/) Various > [How can it be, I wondered, that we can be lying in bed next to a person we love wholly and helplessly, a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-parkhurst/how-can-it-be-i-wondered-that-we-can-be-lying-in-bed-next-to-a-person/) [Carolyn Parkhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-parkhurst/) > [He once thought it himself, that he might die with grief: for his wife, his daughters, his sisters, his father and master the cardinal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-once-thought-it-himself-that-he-might-die-with-grief-for-his-wife/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! This heart! Here! This flesh is only flesh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirius-black/you-know-the-man-you-truly-are-remus-this-heart-is-where-you-truly/) [Sirius Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sirius-black/) ## More by Jean Vanier > [When we start helping the weak and the poor to rise everyone will begin to change. Those who have power and riches will start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/when-we-start-helping-the-weak-and-the-poor-to-rise-everyone-will/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [...Individualistic material progress and the desire to gain prestige by coming out on top have taken over from the sense of fellowship, compassion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/individualistic-material-progress-and-the-desire-to-gain-prestige-by/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [To invite others to live with us is a sign that we aren't afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/to-invite-others-to-live-with-us-is-a-sign-that-we-aren-t-afraid-that/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [People are longing to rediscover true community. We have had enough of loneliness, independence and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/people-are-longing-to-rediscover-true-community-we-have-had-enough-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The person in misery does not need a look that judges and criticizes but a comforting presence that brings peace and hope and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-person-in-misery-does-not-need-a-look-that-judges-and-criticizes/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [All of us have a secret desire to be seen as saints, heroes, martyrs. We are afraid to be children, to be ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/all-of-us-have-a-secret-desire-to-be-seen-as-saints-heroes-martyrs-we/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [To be free is to put justice, truth and service to others over and above our personal gain or our need for recognition, power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/to-be-free-is-to-put-justice-truth-and-service-to-others-over-and/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [If we love (the poor) people, we want to identify with them and share with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/if-we-love-the-poor-people-we-want-to-identify-with-them-and-share/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“Sympathies and antipathies . . . Human friendships can very quickly become a club of mediocrities, enclosed in mutual flattery and approval, preventing people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/sympathies-and-antipathies-human-friendships-can-very-quickly-become/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [A community is only a community when the majority of its members are making the transition from 'the community for myself' to 'myself for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/a-community-is-only-a-community-when-the-majority-of-its-members-are/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Each person is sacred, no matter what his or her culture, religion, handicap, or fragility. Each person is created in God’s image; each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-person-is-sacred-no-matter-what-his-or-her-culture-religion/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [But let us not put our sights too high. We do not have to be saviours of the world! We are simply human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/but-let-us-not-put-our-sights-too-high-we-do-not-have-to-be-saviours/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Each human being, however small or weak, has something to bring to humanity. As we start to really get to know others, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-human-being-however-small-or-weak-has-something-to-bring-to/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“Have patience . . . We are not the masters of our own feelings of attraction or revulsion; these come from places in ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/have-patience-we-are-not-the-masters-of-our-own-feelings-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The people with the best sense of what is essential to a community, of what gives and maintains its spirit, are often doing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-people-with-the-best-sense-of-what-is-essential-to-a-community-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) [Explore all 132 Jean Vanier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) ## More Holy spirit quotes > [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/) [T.L. Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Sanctification comes from the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sanctification-comes-from-the-holy-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [“We are inflamed, by Thy Gift we are kindled; and are carried upwards; we glow inwardly, and go forwards. We ascend Thy ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/we-are-inflamed-by-thy-gift-we-are-kindled-and-are-carried-upwards-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians do, to take counsel together, their purpose is not ( or should not be) to ascertain what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/ideally-when-christians-meet-as-christians-do-to-take-counsel/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [When the Holy Spirit comes into your life and you allow Him take charge of your life, He'll bring in the anointing. The anointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/when-the-holy-spirit-comes-into-your-life-and-you-allow-him-take/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [Intellectual methods-study and reason-are essential to our progress toward eternal life, but they are not sufficient. They can prepare the way. They can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/intellectual-methods-study-and-reason-are-essential-to-our-progress/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“Jesus was not just a man filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or blessed with the presence of God, like the prophets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-g-norris/jesus-was-not-just-a-man-filled-with-the-baptism-of-the-holy-spirit/) S.G. Norris > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Reality is what we notice on the surface – what we feel or see, what superficial perspectives we might gain, for example, from television's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marva-j-dawn/reality-is-what-we-notice-on-the-surface-what-we-feel-or-see-what/) [Marva J. Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marva-j-dawn/) > [“The Holy Spirit is the most influential mentor in your life. He is always willing to teach and guide you in all Truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-hope-wagner/the-holy-spirit-is-the-most-influential-mentor-in-your-life-he-is/) [Alisa Hope Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisa-hope-wagner/) [Browse all 1,879 Holy spirit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-spirit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Have patience . . . It is difficult to get people to understand that the ideal doesn't exist, that personal equilibrium and the harmony they dream of comes only after years and years of struggle, and even then only as flashes of grace and peace. Loving is not only a voluntary act which involves controlling and overcoming our own sensibilities - that is just the beginning. 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