Of Patience and Being a Patient!
- A Crazy Little Bird Told Me
- Dec 29, 2025
- 4 min read
I wish I had gotten a penny for every time friends told me to be patient this year, because let me tell you, I would be able to go on a very nice holiday! Granted, they only had to say it that many times because maybe, juuust maybe, I wasn’t listening particularly well, or so they say.
I am truly thankful for the fact people cared enough to remind me to be patient. However, not being naturally gifted with that particular quality, let me tell you, this is sometimes maddening, particularly when I know they’re right! Actually, knowing they’re right makes it worse!
We made it to the end of 2025 though, and despite my best efforts (alright maybe weak to average efforts), I don’t think I have gained much in wisdom when it comes to patience.
That being said, being reminded frequently about this concept led me to a deep philosophical question: where does the word patient comes from? Is it the same origin for both patience and being a patient? What is that all about?
I promise, this article is short and sweet!
Let’s start with the word patience: where does the word comes from?
It originates from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- meaning “to hurt”. Yes, that’s starting well, isn’t it?
From there, it made it to the Latin language as patientia which means “suffer, experience, wait”, was then acquired by the Old French (those French again!) as pacience before making it to the Middle English language.
Patience is defined nowadays as the quality of being patient, to which I want to answer blablabla, but I suppose that would be childish!
I don’t want to be rude or anything, but I don’t think I like the original meaning of the word. Why on earth should one be patient, when it means to hurt or suffer?! What exactly is good about that!
Is being a patient linked to the word patience?
I know that question seems daft, but while it may appear obvious, I thought it would be better to check and be sure.
And yes, they all mean the same darn thing!
The noun “a patient” originally means “one who suffers”, and it seems the term is construed as meaning that the role of the patient is to passively accept and tolerate the suffering.
So I will ask you all again, 1) have you met me and 2) how is being patient a good thing in any way, shape or form?!
Of patience and religion.
We figured out what the term patience meant originally, but has the meaning evolved in our society?
It seems the answer is yes, somewhat, and we might need to look into religion to understand how we went from a notion of suffering to a virtue and to the path of enlightenment. Disclaimer, it seems none of those notions are mutually exclusive.
Let’s start with Judaism, in which patience and fortitude are important notions, and said to help endures life. Once again, to summarise, human life is hard and sucks, but you can endure (mostly in that case because you believe god will save you). You can’t see me but I am shaking my head!
What about the Christian religion? Well, for those people, patience is one of the seven virtues (chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility). That list seems like a lot to expect out of humans in my very humble opinion.
What about Islam, what do they think of patience? It also seems to be one of the best virtue, that will help an individual grow closer to God and thus attain true peace.
Buddhism has a slightly different take on the notion of patience, as it is one of the skill or “perfections” that one must practice in order to reach perfect enlightenment. However, in that context patience means to not returning harm, rather than merely enduring a difficult situation. For some reason, I feel this makes it worse, but that might just be me!
Finally, in Hinduism, patience is also an essential virtue, meaning forbearance and the capacity to wait and endure opposites calmly and without anxiety: cold and heat or joys and sorrows for example. That looks to me like accepting life and getting on with it, rather than getting all worked up about stuff you can’t change. That philosophy or belief, I can accept, even though how you apply it might be beyond my reach!
So, with all that in mind, I would postulate that I am clearly not very virtuous, nor am I very advanced in the path to enlightenment! I also feel strongly that being French and being patient are mutually exclusive notions in the first place, and therefore this shouldn’t be expected from me (yes, you can absolutely argue that point, but remember to bring cake when you do!).
I think we should agree that patience be downgraded from virtue to … I don’t know … something somewhat optional!
I am sure hoping that I will stay away from any situation that will require my friends to tell me to be patient and endure in 2026, but once again, thank you all for caring! (Notes: I would say sorry for not listening better, but a friend of mine taught me (repeatedly) that saying sorry while you keep doing the same thing is pointless... and let's be honest, likelihood is that I will keep being impatient!)
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