Dag Hammarskjöld on Political Patience

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04/02/2015

Dag Hammarskjöld on Political Patience

I thought I'd follow my prior post with this one, capturing some of Dag Hammarskjöld's comments on patience in the political process (see http://www.dag-hammarskjold.com/interpreting-hammarskjold-s-political-wisdom/patience-in-politics-part-1/):

If the elephant walks and walks in the right direction, we should not be impatient. It does not move too quickly, but we shall certainly arrive at a goal. (The Adventure of Peace, 198)

Impatience is a useful goad, but a very poor guide. There are times when it is political wisdom, in the best sense, to mark time. (Public Papers 2, 205)

Nothing is of greater importance for a peaceful and constructive development…toward freedom and an equal place in the world than to respect the laws of natural growth, guiding and helping the necessary change without impatience for overnight results. (Public Papers 2, 258)

Perseverance and patience, joined with the calm trust in the possibility to overcome all difficulties which is proper to men who know that fate is what they make it, are the qualities most needed at the present difficult juncture in history. (Public Papers 2, 279)

The fact that there may be a long road to travel in order to arrive at settlement does not in any way, and should not in any way, be permitted to discourage us in our immediate effort: nor should it be used by any party as an excuse not to cooperate with us. (Public Papers 3, 132)

To throw the cards on the table for such a reason as that we haven’t reached anything like perfection seems to me…a very unwise, impatient policy. (Public Papers 3, 180)

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