“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
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Václav Havel126
playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and 1st President of … 1936–2011Related quotes
Donald J. Trump (1946) 45th President of the United States of America
During an interview on 60 Minutes (11 November 2016)
2010s, 2016, November
Abraham Maslow (1908–1970) American psychologist
As quoted in Perfecting Private Practice (2004) by Joan Neehall-Davidson, p. 95.
1970s and later
Source: book The Farther Reaches of Human
John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) American politician, 6th president of the United States (in office from 1825 to 1829)
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.
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, known for his works of science fiction …
General sources
Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American writer and filmmaker, professor, and activist
Source: Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963
“Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.”
Abigail Adams (1744–1818) 2nd First Lady of the United States (1797–1801)
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.
Alexander Maclaren (1826–1910) British minister
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 590.