ProverbPerseveranceDutch origin

Geduld is een bitter kruid, maar draagt goede vrucht

Meaning: Waiting is hard, but it pays off.

Literally: Patience is a bitter herb, but it bears good fruit

Example: “Het duurt jaren voordat de boom vruchten draagt. Geduld is een bitter kruid, maar draagt goede vrucht.” — It takes a long time before the tree bears fruit, but patience is a virtue.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Turkish

  • English: Patience is a virtue
  • French: La patience est une vertu (literally: Patience is a virtue)
  • Spanish: La paciencia es una virtud (literally: Patience is a virtue)
  • German: Geduld bringt Rosen (literally: Patience brings roses)
  • Italian: La pazienza è la virtù dei forti (literally: Patience is the virtue of the strong)
  • Turkish: Sabır acıdır, meyvesi tatlıdır (literally: Patience is bitter, its fruit is sweet)

Origin: Patience is pictured as a bitter herb with good fruit, the same image as the Turkish sabır acıdır, meyvesi tatlıdır.

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