There are very little things in this life I cannot afford and

The actor Larry Hagman, known to the world for his larger-than-life presence and wealth of success, once confessed with disarming honesty: “There are very little things in this life I cannot afford and patience is one of them.” In this striking admission, he unveiled a truth often hidden from the powerful — that worldly riches can purchase almost anything, but they cannot buy the eternal virtue of patience. For while money opens doors, it cannot grant the discipline to wait, the strength to endure, nor the wisdom to let life unfold at its appointed time.

Hagman’s words are the cry of one who knew the glitter of fame, yet recognized its emptiness when measured against the deeper treasures of the soul. He could afford mansions, fine food, and luxuries beyond the reach of many, but he admitted his lack of patience — a treasure that no wealth can secure. This acknowledgment is timeless, for kings and emperors, merchants and magnates, have all discovered that the greatest struggles are not with gold or silver, but with the inner battles of self-control, endurance, and waiting upon the tides of time.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great. He conquered lands from Greece to India, amassing riches and power unrivaled in his age. Yet what he could not conquer was his own impatience. Driven by restless ambition, he pushed his men further and further until exhaustion and revolt broke the spirit of his army. His empire, though vast, was fleeting, crumbling soon after his death. This tale illustrates Hagman’s truth: that even when one can afford everything, the inability to master patience leads to ruin.

The irony of the human condition is revealed here. The poor often think their greatest need is wealth, while the wealthy discover their greatest poverty lies in virtues they cannot buy. Patience, unlike jewels, cannot be purchased; it must be cultivated. It is grown in the soil of waiting, in the storms of delay, in the long trials of suffering. Only those who submit themselves to time and hardship find themselves clothed in its strength. To lack it is to be forever restless, forever grasping, never at peace.

Hagman’s words also echo with a kind of humility, for he recognized his weakness openly. This confession itself carries a lesson: that no matter what treasures one gathers, life remains incomplete if the spirit lacks balance. Fame fades, wealth can vanish, but the soul that has patience walks steadily through both triumph and trial. The admission of this lack is not a mark of failure, but a reminder to all that even the great must struggle with virtues beyond their reach.

The lesson for us, then, is clear: seek patience above riches. When provoked, do not be quick to anger; when delayed, do not be quick to despair; when dreams seem slow, do not abandon them in haste. Practice patience daily, in small ways: in listening before speaking, in waiting before acting, in enduring without complaint. Each act, though small, strengthens the soul until patience becomes your constant companion.

Therefore, O children of tomorrow, remember Hagman’s words. You may one day hold wealth, power, or fame, but if you lack patience, you remain poor in the truest sense. Strive to cultivate this treasure, for it alone endures when all else fades. In patience you will find peace, strength, and the wisdom to endure life’s trials with grace. This is the wealth no thief can steal and no coin can buy — the wealth of the eternal soul.