proverb · Words worth keeping
Good things come to those who wait.
Good things come to those who wait.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying promises good things to people who wait. It encourages patience when a result has not yet arrived.
What the words are saying
Come makes delay sound as if it will be rewarded. A responsible interpretation can support patience without guaranteeing an eventual benefit or suggesting that waiting replaces needed action. The phrase does not define the result, the time required or whether continued waiting is appropriate.
Everyday example
Someone allows reasonable time for a reply while checking whether another practical step is needed.
When to use it
Use it as qualified encouragement toward patience.
What it does not mean
Waiting alone guarantees neither a good outcome nor a suitable timescale.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 395; PDF page 59
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.