The man of a frantic heated imagination considers patience as flowing
from a meanness of soul, a dastardly disposition, the last resource of
cowards. But the man of real sagacity, who can view things through a
dispassionate medium, discovers in it all the genuine marks of a noble
mind. It is supported by hope, and is entirely unacquainted with every
species of despair, the constant companion of the lowness of sentiment.
Patience is so strong a barrier against every kind of disgrace, that all
our ills lose the greatest part of their power by opposing this virtue
to them; it combats all opponents, and every conflict is a victory. It
honourably resists the greatest hardships of this world, and sweetens
the bitters of adversity in such a manner, that we scarce perceive we
are unfortunate. It is one of those virtues that constantly carries its
own reward; for the very practice of it makes us sensible of its
benefits. The Emperor M. Aurelius often said, that Cæsar acquired the
empire by the sword, Augustus by inheritance, Caligula by the merits of
his father, Nero by tyranny, Titus by having vanquished Judea, but for
his part, though of low extraction, he had obtained it by patience.
Whatever crosses and misfortunes we meet with, and however heavy their
burden, they cannot overwhelm us whilst we are not abandoned by
patience: on the contrary, they become proportionally lightened as we
resolutely exercise this virtue. As every thing in nature has its
contrast, so patience is the opposite to despair; wherefore the
Christians consider it as an heavenly grace, and the philosophers of
antiquity pronounced it the last efforts of a firm and generous soul. It
is very nearly allied to courage, which cannot shine without opponents;
in like manner this virtue disappears as soon as misfortunes desert us.
Patience is the most generous of all friends, never appearing in
prosperity; but when our miseries attain a pitch that threatens all our
future happiness, she never fails to offer her assistance to those
really inclined to avail themselves of her kindness. Patience is the
birthright of the wise, an inheritance precluded from fools, who are
never the architects of their own good fortune, but frequently of their
own misery.
The _Spectator_ observes, that resolution in an assassin is, according
to reason, quite as laudable as knowledge and wisdom exercised in the
defence of an ill cause. Those men only are truly great who place their
ambition rather in acquiring to themselves the conscience of worthy
enterprises, than in the prospect of glory which attends it. These
exalted spirits would rather be secretly the authors of events which are
serviceable to mankind, than, without being such, to have the public
fame of it. Where, therefore, an eminent merit is robbed by artifice or
detraction, it does but encrease by such endeavours of its enemies; the
impotent pains which are taken to sully it or disguise it among a croud,
to the injury of an individual, will naturally produce the contrary
effect; the fire will blaze out and burn up all the attempts to smother
what they cannot extinguish. There is but one thing necessary to keep
the possession of true glory, which is to hear the opposers of it with
patience, and preserve the virtue by which it was acquired. When a
person is thoroughly persuaded that he ought neither to admire, wish
for, nor pursue any thing but what is exactly his duty; it is not in the
power of seasons, persons, or accident, to diminish his value. He only
is a great man who can neglect the applauses of the multitude, and enjoy
himself independent of its favours. This is indeed an arduous task, but
it should comfort a glorious spirit that it is the highest step to which
human nature can arrive. Triumph, applause, acclamations, are dear to
the mind of man; but it is still a more exquisite delight to say to
yourself, you have done well, than to hear the whole human race
pronounce glorious.
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