“To lose patience is to lose the battle.”
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Attribution note
Very widely credited to Gandhi, but no primary source exists; the earliest attribution is a 1968 tri-author compilation that mixes Gandhi, Nehru and Tagore, so authorship cannot be pinned to Gandhi with any reliable citation.
Likely origin: No primary source found; earliest traceable appearance is the 1968 compilation 'Wit and Wisdom of Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore.' No Young India/Harijan/CWMG citation.
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In any drawn-out contest, the first person to snap usually hands over the advantage. Losing composure clouds judgment and forces hasty moves, while staying level lets you keep reading the situation. The real struggle is often less about the opponent than about holding your own temper steady.
When to use it
- In a salary talk, the candidate who stays composed outlasts a manager who grows flustered and concedes.
- A parent who keeps calm through a toddler's tantrum defuses it, where snapping only feeds it.
- A goalkeeper who waits out the striker's feint saves the shot instead of diving early.