---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have not so great a struggle with my…"
description: "\"I have not so great a struggle with my vices, great and numerous as they are, as I have with my impatience. My efforts are not absolutely useless; yet ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/john-calvin-490_able_i-have-not-so-great-a-struggle-with-my-v_1942686.jpg"
---

#  I have not so great a struggle with my vices, great and…

![“I have not so great a struggle with my vices, great and numerous as they are, as I have with my impatience. My efforts are not absolutely useless; yet I have never been able to conquer this ferocious wild beast.” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/john-calvin-490_able_i-have-not-so-great-a-struggle-with-my-v_1942686.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/john-calvin-490_able_i-have-not-so-great-a-struggle-with-my-v_1942686.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/john-calvin-490_able_i-have-not-so-great-a-struggle-with-my-v_1942686.jpg)

> “I have not so great a struggle with my vices, great and numerous as they are, as I have with my impatience. My efforts are not absolutely useless; yet I have never been able to conquer this ferocious wild beast.”

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He admits that impatience is a greater personal struggle than vices, acknowledging the difficulty of mastering inner temperament.

**In simple terms:** Impatience is a fierce inner battle.

Key Takeaway

Work on self‑control and patience.

Themes

self‑discipline temperament spiritual struggle

Mood

introspective serious

Type

theological motivational

When to use this quote

- personal meditation
- conflict counseling
- spiritual guidance

Key Concepts

inner conflict patience cultivation moral weakness

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your impatience?
- How can you practice patience daily?

A Different Perspective

Patience may be harder to change than external habits.

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[Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Impatience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impatience/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Wild beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-beast/) [Wild beasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-beasts/)

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