“ A very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience. ”
William Shakespeare, Coriolanus (1623). copy citation
| Author | William Shakespeare |
|---|---|
| Source | Coriolanus |
| Topic | patience |
| Date | 1623 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Written between 1605 and 1609 |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1535/pg1535-images.html |
Context
“This is strange now: do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o' the right-hand file? Do you?
BOTH TRIBUNES. Why, how are we censured? MENENIUS. Because you talk of pride now,—will you not be angry? BOTH TRIBUNES. Well, well, sir, well. MENENIUS. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud?
BRUTUS. We do it not alone, sir. MENENIUS. I know you can do very little alone; for your helps are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone.” source
BOTH TRIBUNES. Why, how are we censured? MENENIUS. Because you talk of pride now,—will you not be angry? BOTH TRIBUNES. Well, well, sir, well. MENENIUS. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud?
BRUTUS. We do it not alone, sir. MENENIUS. I know you can do very little alone; for your helps are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone.” source
