Meaning & Analysis
In certain difficult situations, the only available course of action or solution is to endure and wait patiently, as no other cure or fix exists.
Insights
Acceptance of the Unchangeable
The proverb metaphorically advises that the ultimate solution to problems beyond our control lies in cultivating an internal state of acceptance, rather than seeking an external fix.
The Healing Power of Time
It suggests that some wounds and conflicts are not healed by immediate intervention but by the natural process of time, for which patience is the essential catalyst.
Patience as a Last Resort
The proverb frames patience as a form of strength and a final, powerful resort when all active efforts have failed, transforming passive endurance into a deliberate and virtuous strategy.
Wisdom in Inaction
It highlights a fundamental truth about human limitation, suggesting that wisdom involves recognizing when to stop striving for a solution and instead practice forbearance.
Stoic Philosophy
The proverb reflects a Stoic philosophical outlook, emphasizing acceptance of what cannot be changed. It positions patience not as passive waiting, but as an active, internal strategy for maintaining composure and sanity when external solutions are unavailable.
Psychological Resilience
From a psychological standpoint, the proverb is a powerful coping mechanism. It reframes helplessness as a call for endurance, fostering resilience and mental fortitude by presenting patience as the only viable course of action in intractable situations.
Critique of Modern Impatience
In an era that prizes immediate results and quick fixes, this proverb offers a counter-cultural perspective. It champions the forgotten virtue of endurance, suggesting that some problems are resolved not by action, but by the simple passage of time.
Spiritual and Moral Virtue
The proverb's wisdom is echoed in numerous religious and spiritual traditions where patience is considered a cardinal virtue, often linked to faith and spiritual maturity. It suggests that true remedy comes from inner strength rather than external intervention.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb uses antithesis by contrasting 'remedy', which implies an active solution, with 'patience', a passive state, to emphasize that the solution is a change in mindset.
Hyperbole
The definitive and absolute phrasing 'There is no remedy but...' acts as a form of hyperbole, strengthening the proverb's core message by excluding all other possibilities.
Aphorism
Its concise, direct, and memorable structure gives it an aphoristic quality, making it a powerful and easily recalled piece of wisdom.
Transcription
Quotations
We complayned to our genessary but pacyenc was our remedy.
(remedy now but patience)
No remedy but patience.
Well, there's no Remedy but Patience.
[As in 1670 Ray].
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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