I have an equal amount of patience as my grade-school children

Mike D, voice of the Beastie Boys and spirit of restless energy, once confessed with disarming honesty: “I have an equal amount of patience as my grade-school children, which is not great.” Though cloaked in humor, his words reveal a deeper truth about human nature: that even the grown, with years and experience, often struggle with the same restless urgency as the young. It is a reminder that age does not always bring calm, and that the discipline of patience must be chosen, not assumed.

At its core, this saying highlights the difficulty of cultivating patience in a world that constantly demands speed. The child grows restless when asked to wait, tugging at the sleeve of time, longing for the next toy, the next treat, the next adventure. Yet are adults truly different? Mike D admits that in his own life, the pull of impatience still lingers, that he too can chafe at delays and grow weary when progress is slow. By aligning himself with his children, he shows that this struggle is universal, stretching from youth into maturity.

The ancients knew this weakness well. The Stoics, those philosophers of endurance, spoke endlessly of mastering the self against impatience, anger, and frustration. Seneca wrote that the truly wise man is not moved by delay, for he knows time bends to no man’s will. Yet stories abound of kings and warriors undone by their lack of patience—rushing into battle too soon, exhausting their armies, or abandoning plans before their fruition. Impatience is not merely a child’s folly; it is a weakness that has toppled empires.

Consider the tale of Alexander the Great. Though brilliant, he often pressed too swiftly, his hunger for conquest driving his men to exhaustion. When he demanded to march further east into India, his weary soldiers refused, for their patience was gone. In his eagerness, Alexander lost the loyalty of those who had carried him to greatness. This story stands as a mirror to Mike D’s jest: whether in the field of war or in the home of children, impatience can strain relationships and break momentum.

Yet, in his self-awareness, Mike D also points us toward wisdom. To recognize one’s lack of patience is the first step in cultivating it. Unlike the child, who is often unaware of his restlessness, the adult may see it clearly, laugh at it, and work to change it. Here is the hidden strength: humility in admitting weakness, and determination to grow. It is a reminder that patience is not natural—it is a virtue forged through practice, reflection, and discipline.

The lesson for us is simple but profound: do not excuse your impatience as something trivial, nor despair when you struggle with it. Instead, treat it as a daily training. When delays come, when progress feels slow, remember that to endure calmly is itself an act of strength. Just as children must be guided to wait, so too must we guide ourselves, learning to sit with time rather than wrestle against it.

Therefore, O seekers, remember Mike D’s words not as a joke, but as a parable. Recognize your own childish impatience, and meet it with conscious effort. Practice waiting, practice listening, practice enduring without complaint. For those who master patience master themselves, and those who master themselves are fit to guide others—whether they are children, communities, or even nations. The child may be excused for impatience, but the adult who learns patience becomes a true leader of souls.