Good things come to those who wait
Meaning: Patience is rewarded.
Origin: The idea that patience is rewarded is very old. Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie, writing as Violet Fane, published a poem in 1892 under the French title Tout vient à qui sait attendre — everything comes to those who know how to wait — with the line "Ah, all things come to those who wait," and a rueful answer: "They come, but often come too late."
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre (literally: Everything comes in time to those who know how to wait)
- Spanish: La paciencia es la madre de la ciencia (literally: Patience is the mother of science)
- Japanese: 果報は寝て待て (Kahō wa nete mate) (literally: Good fortune comes while sleeping and waiting)
- German: Geduld bringt Rosen (literally: Patience brings roses)
More proverbs about Perseverance
- In for a penny, in for a pound — Once committed to something, go all the way with it.
- Every dog has its day — Everyone will have their moment of success or good fortune.
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step — Great accomplishments start with small beginnings.
- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again — Persistence is essential to success.
- Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today — Avoid procrastination.
- Blood, sweat, and tears — Great achievement requires immense effort and sacrifice.
From our idioms
- 우물 안 개구리 (Umul an gaeguri) — Someone with a narrow, limited worldview.
- 꿩 먹고 알 먹고 (Kkwong meokgo al meokgo) — Getting two benefits from one action.
- 발 없는 말이 천리 간다 (Bal eomneun mari cheolli ganda) — Gossip and rumors spread incredibly fast.