"Les deux guerriers les plus puissants sont la patience et le temps"

Patience and time—those are the two things that can really move mountains. It’s all about understanding that not everything happens right away and that sometimes you have to wait and persist to see the results you want.

Think back to when this idea might have been particularly relevant. Imagine the 19th century, a time of wars and long-term conflicts. People had to endure long battles and lengthy negotiations. They couldn’t just snap their fingers and expect peace or victory. They needed patience and had to wait for the right time to strike or make agreements. This saying likely comes from that kind of context, emphasizing the long game rather than immediate gratification.

Now, picture a gardener—someone who plants seeds in the spring. They don’t get fruits or flowers the next day. They water the seeds, nurture the soil, and keep the pests away. With time and patience, those seeds grow into beautiful plants. That’s a real-life example of how patience, coupled with time, brings about significant results. The gardener can't rush the process; they have to wait and keep working steadily.

So, how do we apply this in our own lives? Let’s say you’re working on a big project at your job. Maybe it’s a new product launch or a major client presentation. It’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t come together immediately. But if you keep at it—fixing small issues here and there, continually improving your work—you’ll find that, over time, you’ll create something great. Don’t rush it. Understand that good things take time and effort.

Here’s a story I think a lot of you might relate to. Imagine a young athlete training for a marathon. At first, she struggles to run just a couple of miles. Her muscles ache, and she feels out of breath. It’s disheartening. But she doesn’t give up. Every day, she runs a little more. She builds her endurance gradually. Weeks turn into months, and as the marathon day approaches, she finds herself ready to tackle the full distance. It’s patience and time that got her there—not a sudden burst of effort.

When you’re feeling impatient, remind yourself of the bigger picture. Do the small things right, and keep moving forward, bit by bit. Whether it’s learning a new skill, building a relationship, or working towards a significant goal, patience and time are your allies. They might not seem powerful in the moment, but they hold the key to lasting success.