Time and patience are the strongest warriors
As people grow older, they begin to have a better appreciation of time. Time is one of the most powerful forces and can be summed up by Leo Tolstoy’s epigram, “Time and patience are the strongest warriors.” This statement not only provokes thoughts on the intricacies of time but also shines a light on a universal dilemma seen in everyday life.
Time is the most desired resource, but also the most wasted. The start and endpoint of every person’s life is defined by time. Without it there would be no order to life, and unfortunately the impossibility to create more time, makes it a non-renewable resource. In Leo Tolstoy’s epigram, he labels time as a “warrior,” giving it a stronger connotation. Having time on one’s side can benefit them greatly in all aspects of life. A single time increment can mean the difference between getting a job or getting rejected or paying rent and being evicted. A man-made concept dictates many of the most critical scenarios in today’s world. Also, having an understanding of how precious time is allows one to live their life to fullness. The people who realize their time is finite can achieve more because they do not dwell on the past or look into the future. Tolstoy, also mentions the virtue of patience in his epigram. Patience is the complete understanding of time, which means having patience allows one to use time to their advantage. People with patience are more likely to be successful in life because they understand that nothing happens immediately. Persevering through tough times and working for success in life is just as important as celebrating those achievements because there is only a certain amount of time for each individual to experience these ups and downs.
Tolstoy’s statement on time is seen in the real world through the ‘Holiday Paradox.’ This phenomenon explains why each year of one’s life seems shorter than the last. As a person grows older, each year they live becomes a smaller fraction of their life, meaning a year for a toddler is a more significant portion of their life when compared to an older person. This leads to a person’s life speeding up with the passing of every year. There is nothing that can stop this from happening, but having the “warrior” of time on one’s side will make it easier to live a complete life.
In the end, time is still relative. Every person has there own evaluation of what it means to them and how it dictates their life. However, if they can use it in their favor, it will allow them to have success. Most importantly, living in the present and having patience for the obstacles throughout life makes life that much rewarding.