“Sober perseverance is more effective than enthusiastic emotions, which are all too capable of being transferred, with little difficulty, to something different each day.”
Source: Disturbing the Peace (1986), Ch. 5 : The Politics of Hope, p. 111
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Václav Havel 126
playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and 1st President of … 1936–2011Related quotes
During an interview on 60 Minutes (11 November 2016)
2010s, 2016, November
As quoted in Perfecting Private Practice (2004) by Joan Neehall-Davidson, p. 95.
1970s and later
Source: book The Farther Reaches of Human
In recent years this has often been misquoted as: "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish".
Oration at Plymouth (1802)
Context: Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air. These qualities have ever been displayed in their mightiest perfection, as attendants in the retinue of strong passions.
General sources
Source: Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963
“Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.”
Letter to John Adams (27 November 1775)
Source: The Quotable Abigail Adams
Context: I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place. I soon get lost in a labyrinth of perplexities; but, whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 590.