--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Firmness is great; persistency is greater." description: "\"Firmness is great; persistency is greater.\" — Ninon de L'Enclos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png" --- # Firmness is great; persistency is greater. ![“Firmness is great; persistency is greater.” quote by Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png) > “Firmness is great; persistency is greater.” [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Steadfastness provides stability; persistence drives greater achievement. **In simple terms:** Stay firm, be persistent. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilience and perseverance. Themes resilience persistence strength Mood reflective steady Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career challenges - long‑term projects - habit formation - adversity Key Concepts personal development philosophical resolve Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance firmness with adaptability? - When is persistence counterproductive? A Different Perspective Persistence without flexibility can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) ## Related quotes > [I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/i-had-only-ordinary-capacity-but-extraordinary-persistency/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [Consistency in conduct and persistency, in efforts are the known keys of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/consistency-in-conduct-and-persistency-in-efforts-are-the-known-keys/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-hope-i-shall-possess-firmness-and-virtue-enough-to-maintain-what-i/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [ I'm glad \[Ornette Coleman\] is such an individualist. I like the firmness of thought and purpose that goes into what he's doing, even though… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-desmond/i-m-glad-ornette-coleman-is-such-an-individualist-i-like-the-firmness/) [Paul Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-desmond/) > [God know that a mother need fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/god-know-that-a-mother-need-fortitude-and-courage-and-tolerance-and/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [A wise man who stands firm is a statesman, a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-wise-man-who-stands-firm-is-a-statesman-a-foolish-man-who-stands/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing can be more touching than to behold a soft and tender female, who had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/nothing-can-be-more-touching-than-to-behold-a-soft-and-tender-female/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The grave, dread thing! Men shiver when thou'rt named: Nature appalled, Shakes off her wonted firmness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/the-grave-dread-thing-men-shiver-when-thou-rt-named-nature-appalled/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [When we see ourselves in a situation which must be endured and gone through, it is best to make up our minds to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-we-see-ourselves-in-a-situation-which-must-be-endured-and-gone/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The door of conciliation and compromise is finally closed by our adversaries, and it remains only to us to meet the conflict with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-door-of-conciliation-and-compromise-is-finally-closed-by-our/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [“Develop flexibility and you will be firm; cultivate yielding and you will be strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liezi/develop-flexibility-and-you-will-be-firm-cultivate-yielding-and-you/) Liezi > [In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/in-respect-to-foresight-and-firmness-the-people-are-more-prudent-more/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Confide not in the firmness of your principles, or the steadfastness of your integrity. Be always vigilant and fearful. Never think you have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brockden-brown/confide-not-in-the-firmness-of-your-principles-or-the-steadfastness/) [Charles Brockden Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brockden-brown/) > [Wisdom teaches us to do, as well as to talk; and to make our words and actions all of a colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/wisdom-teaches-us-to-do-as-well-as-to-talk-and-to-make-our-words-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) ## More by Ninon de L'Enclos > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The resistance of a woman is not always a proof of her virtue, but more frequently of her experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-resistance-of-a-woman-is-not-always-a-proof-of-her-virtue-but/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [One must choose between loving women and knowing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/one-must-choose-between-loving-women-and-knowing-them/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Equality is the share of every one at their advent upon earth, and equality is also theirs when placed beneath it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/equality-is-the-share-of-every-one-at-their-advent-upon-earth-and/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Novelty is the storehouse of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/novelty-is-the-storehouse-of-pleasure/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Hatred is nearly always honest--rarely, if ever, assumed. So much cannot be said for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/hatred-is-nearly-always-honest-rarely-if-ever-assumed-so-much-cannot/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A woman should not take a lover without the consent of her heart, nor a husband without the consent of her reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-should-not-take-a-lover-without-the-consent-of-her-heart-nor/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Wit is a dangerous talent in friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/wit-is-a-dangerous-talent-in-friendship/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [When our desires are fulfilled, we never fail to realize the wealth of imagination and the paucity of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/when-our-desires-are-fulfilled-we-never-fail-to-realize-the-wealth-of/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A cunning woman is her own mistress because she confides in no one. She who deceives others anticipates deceit, and guards herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-cunning-woman-is-her-own-mistress-because-she-confides-in-no-one/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The joy of the mind is the measure of its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-joy-of-the-mind-is-the-measure-of-its-strength/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Gossip, like ennui, is born of idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/gossip-like-ennui-is-born-of-idleness/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [There is a certain time of life, when we value a good stomach more than the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/there-is-a-certain-time-of-life-when-we-value-a-good-stomach-more/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/today-a-new-sun-rises-for-me-everything-lives-everything-is-animated/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Explore all 61 Ninon de L'Enclos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## More Firmness quotes > [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Wisdom teaches us to do, as well as to talk; and to make our words and actions all of a colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/wisdom-teaches-us-to-do-as-well-as-to-talk-and-to-make-our-words-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Confide not in the firmness of your principles, or the steadfastness of your integrity. Be always vigilant and fearful. Never think you have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brockden-brown/confide-not-in-the-firmness-of-your-principles-or-the-steadfastness/) [Charles Brockden Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brockden-brown/) > [In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/in-respect-to-foresight-and-firmness-the-people-are-more-prudent-more/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Develop flexibility and you will be firm; cultivate yielding and you will be strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liezi/develop-flexibility-and-you-will-be-firm-cultivate-yielding-and-you/) Liezi > [The door of conciliation and compromise is finally closed by our adversaries, and it remains only to us to meet the conflict with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-door-of-conciliation-and-compromise-is-finally-closed-by-our/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [When we see ourselves in a situation which must be endured and gone through, it is best to make up our minds to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-we-see-ourselves-in-a-situation-which-must-be-endured-and-gone/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The grave, dread thing! Men shiver when thou'rt named: Nature appalled, Shakes off her wonted firmness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/the-grave-dread-thing-men-shiver-when-thou-rt-named-nature-appalled/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Nothing can be more touching than to behold a soft and tender female, who had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/nothing-can-be-more-touching-than-to-behold-a-soft-and-tender-female/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A wise man who stands firm is a statesman, a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-wise-man-who-stands-firm-is-a-statesman-a-foolish-man-who-stands/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God know that a mother need fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/god-know-that-a-mother-need-fortitude-and-courage-and-tolerance-and/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [ I'm glad \[Ornette Coleman\] is such an individualist. I like the firmness of thought and purpose that goes into what he's doing, even though… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-desmond/i-m-glad-ornette-coleman-is-such-an-individualist-i-like-the-firmness/) [Paul Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-desmond/) > [I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-hope-i-shall-possess-firmness-and-virtue-enough-to-maintain-what-i/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Victory comes through firm resolution and determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imam-ali/victory-comes-through-firm-resolution-and-determination/) [Imam Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imam-ali/) > [Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. Without it, genius wastes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/firmness-of-purpose-is-one-of-the-most-necessary-sinews-of-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 173 Firmness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Firmness is great; persistency is greater.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ninon de L'Enclos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Firmness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_firmness_firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater_884074.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Firmness is great; persistency is greater.” — Ninon de L'Enclos", "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": "Ninon de L'Enclos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Firmness is great; persistency is greater.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/firmness-is-great-persistency-is-greater/#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 } } ] } ```