“How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”
- Source
- Othello
- Date
- 1604
- Attribution
- Source identified
- Voice / speaker
- Fictional character · Iago
What does this quote mean?
The image recognizes that wounds and complicated situations change gradually rather than instantly, but the dramatic context warns against automatically treating a persuasive maxim as trustworthy advice.
Where does it come from?
Othello, Act 2, Scene 3, Project Gutenberg #1531. Iago says this to Roderigo while encouraging patience with a manipulative plot; the speaker context is therefore essential to interpretation.
Who voices the line?
Fictional character · Iago. Iago says this to Roderigo in Othello, Act 2, Scene 3 while urging him to continue a deceptive scheme. The healing metaphor is rhetorically useful but spoken by a manipulative character.
The source author and the local speaker can be different, especially in fiction, drama, dialogue and poetry.
How should this attribution be read?
This wording is connected with the named source shown above. Translations and editions can vary, so consult the source note when exact wording matters.