--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patience and submission are very…" description: "\"Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle; for th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/samuel-johnson-50_calamity_patience-and-submission-are-very-careful_2655933.jpg" --- # Patience and submission are very carefully to be… ![“Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle; for the calamities of life, like the necessities of Nature, are calls to labor and diligence.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/samuel-johnson-50_calamity_patience-and-submission-are-very-careful_2655933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/samuel-johnson-50_calamity_patience-and-submission-are-very-careful_2655933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/samuel-johnson-50_calamity_patience-and-submission-are-very-careful_2655933.jpg) > “Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. We are not to repine, but we may lawfully struggle; for the calamities of life, like the necessities of Nature, are calls to labor and diligence.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes patience from cowardice, urging diligent effort despite hardships. **In simple terms:** Patience differs from laziness; work hard. Key Takeaway Embrace struggle, avoid complacency. Themes patience diligence virtue Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal challenges - career setbacks - health issues - family crises Key Concepts morality human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate patience from avoidance? - What motivates you to work through hardship? A Different Perspective May lead to burnout if not balanced with rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Cowardice Indolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice-indolence-2388344/) [Diligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diligence/) [Distinguished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguished/) [Indolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indolence/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patience Submission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-submission-2388345/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Calamities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-calamities-2388346/) [Submission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submission/) ## Related quotes > [“To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect- to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-a-b-davidson/to-wait-is-not-merely-to-remain-impassive-it-is-to-expect-to-look-for/) [Dr. A.B. Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-a-b-davidson/) > [In regard of God, patience is a submission to His sovereignty. To endure a trial, simply because we cannot avoid or resist it, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-charnock/in-regard-of-god-patience-is-a-submission-to-his-sovereignty-to/) [Stephen Charnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-charnock/) > [Indolence is the devil's cushion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/indolence-is-the-devil-s-cushion/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-certainty-that-life-cannot-be-long-and-the-probability-that-it-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The mind is refrigerated by interruption; the thoughts are diverted from the principle subject; the reader is weary, he suspects not why; and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-mind-is-refrigerated-by-interruption-the-thoughts-are-diverted/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To expect that the intricacies of science will be pierced by a careless glance, or the eminences of fame ascended without labour, is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-expect-that-the-intricacies-of-science-will-be-pierced-by-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-we-hope-ever-to-do-with-ease-we-must-first-learn-to-do-with/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The imitator treads a beaten walk, and with all his diligence can only find a few flowers or branches untouched by his predecessor, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-imitator-treads-a-beaten-walk-and-with-all-his-diligence-can-only/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/few-things-are-impossible-to-diligence-and-skill-great-works-are/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Diligence in employments of less consequence is the most successful introduction to greater enterprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/diligence-in-employments-of-less-consequence-is-the-most-successful/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Many leave the labours of half their life to their executors and to chance, because they will not send them abroad unfinished, and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/many-leave-the-labours-of-half-their-life-to-their-executors-and-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence-and-hurry-he-that-neglects/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-he-that-lives-longest-lives-but-a-little-while-every-man-may-be/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is good sense applied with diligence to what was at first a mere accident, and which by great application grew to be called,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-good-sense-applied-with-diligence-to-what-was-at-first-a-mere/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Applause abates diligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/applause-abates-diligence/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [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/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Calamity quotes > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [In spite of calamity, He still has a plan for me, And it’s working for my good, And it’s building my testimony...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-sapp/in-spite-of-calamity-he-still-has-a-plan-for-me-and-it-s-working-for/) [Marvin Sapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-sapp/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I doubt if I have made the best use of all my calamities. Soft, amiable natures they would have refined to saintliness; of strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-doubt-if-i-have-made-the-best-use-of-all-my-calamities-soft-amiable/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Drudgery, calamity, exasperation, want, are instructors in eloquence and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/drudgery-calamity-exasperation-want-are-instructors-in-eloquence-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The liberty of the press is a blessing when we are inclined to write against others, and a calamity when we find ourselves overborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-a-blessing-when-we-are-inclined-to-write/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There is a big lesson in experiencing uncertainty and calamity with a sober focus - the most chaotic moments are the ones from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/there-is-a-big-lesson-in-experiencing-uncertainty-and-calamity-with-a/) [Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/) > [The worst calamity: 'To have eyes and fail to see.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-worst-calamity-to-have-eyes-and-fail-to-see/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Such exceptional suffering and calamity, then, affecting the hero, and-we must now add-generally extending far and wide beyond him, so as to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bradley/such-exceptional-suffering-and-calamity-then-affecting-the-hero-and/) [A. C. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bradley/) > [When a man has calamity upon calamity the world generally concludes that he must be a very wicked man to deserve them. Perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/when-a-man-has-calamity-upon-calamity-the-world-generally-concludes/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [I can remember certain Manchester United defeats the way most people remember family bereavements or great political events. The four-nil drubbing by Barcelona, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-dunne/i-can-remember-certain-manchester-united-defeats-the-way-most-people/) [Tom Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-dunne/) [Browse all 442 Calamity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Patience and submission are very carefully to be distinguished from cowardice and indolence. 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