good things come to those who wait

idiom

Meaning

Be patient

Origin

first recorded 19th c. disputed origin

From the 19th-century proverb 'all things come to him who waits', used in Violet Fane's 1892 poem 'Tout vient à qui sait attendre' (itself an old French proverb).

Examples

SIMPLE

Don't worry, good things come to those who wait.

CONTEXTUAL

I know you want that promotion now, but stay patient because good things come to those who wait.

COMPLEX

Although the young artist struggled for years without recognition, she remained hopeful, believing that good things come to those who wait for their moment.

Last updated June 7, 2026