--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patience expands your options. If you…" description: "\"Patience expands your options. If you insist on immediate gratification, your choices are severely limited.\" — Ralph Marston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ralph-marston-2044_choices_patience-expands-your-options-if-you-ins_2085983.png" --- # Patience expands your options. If you insist on immediate… ![“Patience expands your options. If you insist on immediate gratification, your choices are severely limited.” quote by Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ralph-marston-2044_choices_patience-expands-your-options-if-you-ins_2085983.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ralph-marston-2044_choices_patience-expands-your-options-if-you-ins_2085983.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ralph-marston-2044_choices_patience-expands-your-options-if-you-ins_2085983.png) > “Patience expands your options. If you insist on immediate gratification, your choices are severely limited.” [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience creates more choices; seeking instant gratification narrows possibilities. **In simple terms:** Patience broadens options. Key Takeaway Practice patience for better outcomes. Themes patience decision making self‑control Mood thoughtful encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - impulse buying - short‑term thinking Key Concepts delayed gratification future planning Questions to Reflect On - When have you sacrificed immediate reward for a better future? - How can you cultivate patience daily? A Different Perspective May be difficult in urgent situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) [Gratification Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification-choices-4099058/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Immediate gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediate-gratification/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patience Expands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-expands-4099057/) ## Related quotes > [Being on stage is, like, my favorite. The immediate gratification. That's my favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/being-on-stage-is-like-my-favorite-the-immediate-gratification-that-s/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [In other words, any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term grown, health, or integrity. Or, expressed another way, any act that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/in-other-words-any-act-that-rejects-immediate-gratification-in-favor/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Immediate gratification of a live audience makes me come alive. I miss performing in theater. I'll make my return to the stage eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-dooling/immediate-gratification-of-a-live-audience-makes-me-come-alive-i-miss/) [Brendan Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-dooling/) > [Many are attracted to social service - the rewards are immediate, the gratification quick. But if we have social justice, we won't need social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bond/many-are-attracted-to-social-service-the-rewards-are-immediate-the/) [Julian Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bond/) > [True happiness comes from gaining insight and growing into your best possible self. Otherwise all you're having is immediate gratification pleasure, which is fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/true-happiness-comes-from-gaining-insight-and-growing-into-your-best/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“We’re a “rational” species—at least that’s what we tell ourselves. So why are we so irrationally enslaved by so many bad habits? It’s because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/we-re-a-rational-species-at-least-that-s-what-we-tell-ourselves-so/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [Academia does not provide many opportunities for immediate gratification. 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This superdevelopment consists in an excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/side-by-side-with-the-miseries-of-underdevelopment-we-find-ourselves/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [It may be observed in general that the future is purchased by the present. It is not possible to secure distant or permanent happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-may-be-observed-in-general-that-the-future-is-purchased-by-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Prefer enduring satisfaction to immediate gratification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/prefer-enduring-satisfaction-to-immediate-gratification/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Patience is a godly attribute that can heal souls, unlock treasures of knowledge and understanding, and transform ordinary men and women into saints and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/patience-is-a-godly-attribute-that-can-heal-souls-unlock-treasures-of/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“Immediate gratification is a dream killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/immediate-gratification-is-a-dream-killer/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Vegas is the most extreme and allegorical of American settlements, bizarre and beautiful in its venality and in its devotion to immediate gratification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/vegas-is-the-most-extreme-and-allegorical-of-american-settlements/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) ## More by Ralph Marston > [When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/when-was-the-last-time-you-spent-a-quiet-moment-just-doing-nothing/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [When the path becomes difficult, that's no reason to give up. In fact, it means you're making real progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/when-the-path-becomes-difficult-that-s-no-reason-to-give-up-in-fact/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [In the midday sun, a bright light will be barely noticed. Yet in the darkest night, even the smallest light can make an enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/in-the-midday-sun-a-bright-light-will-be-barely-noticed-yet-in-the/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Make the decision to love this day, this place, this moment, this special experience of life with the people around you. And there will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/make-the-decision-to-love-this-day-this-place-this-moment-this/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Adversity is an effective, thorough and highly personalized teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/adversity-is-an-effective-thorough-and-highly-personalized-teacher/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Problems, weaknesses, setbacks, regrets and mistakes teach you if you're willing to learn, or they punish you if you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/problems-weaknesses-setbacks-regrets-and-mistakes-teach-you-if-you-re/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Live your days on the positive side of life, in tune with your most treasured values. And in each moment you'll have much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/live-your-days-on-the-positive-side-of-life-in-tune-with-your-most/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Just because the road ahead is long, is no reason to slow down. Just because there is much work to be done, is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/just-because-the-road-ahead-is-long-is-no-reason-to-slow-down-just/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [If you so choose, each day can be filled with even more joy than the one before. If you so choose, even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-so-choose-each-day-can-be-filled-with-even-more-joy-than-the/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [When you can clearly see yourself being there, you can see much more clearly how to get there. You can imagine the path to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/when-you-can-clearly-see-yourself-being-there-you-can-see-much-more/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [It doesn't matter how much you want. What really matters is how much you want it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-you-want-what-really-matters-is-how-much/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Though the universe is delightfully complex, life, at its heart, is not particularly complicated. Live true to who you are and though it won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/though-the-universe-is-delightfully-complex-life-at-its-heart-is-not/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [There are very real obstacles and challenges to any course of action. And there's no need to add to them, by making up obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Those who are passionate about what they do have an advantage that is nearly impossible to overcome. In passion there is energy, creativity, resilience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/those-who-are-passionate-about-what-they-do-have-an-advantage-that-is/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [One of the biggest threats to success is success itself. When you get a little bit ahead, it's all too easy to become complacent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/one-of-the-biggest-threats-to-success-is-success-itself-when-you-get/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) [Explore all 190 Ralph Marston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Patience expands your options. 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