The young man or the young woman must possess or teach himself, train himself, in infinite patience, which is to try and to try and to try until it comes right. He must train himself in ruthless intolerance. — William Faulkner
—What lingers after this line?
Faulkner’s Demanding Ideal
At first glance, Faulkner’s statement appears severe, yet its force comes from pairing two qualities that are often treated as opposites: infinite patience and ruthless intolerance. He argues that any young person hoping to master a craft must endure repeated failure without surrender, while also refusing to accept weak results. In this way, perseverance is not enough by itself; it must be joined to exacting judgment. This balance reflects Faulkner’s own artistic world, where discipline mattered as much as inspiration. In interviews collected in *Faulkner in the University* (1959), he often emphasized work, revision, and endurance over romantic ideas of talent. Thus, the quote reads less like a moral slogan and more like a working method for serious creation.
Why Patience Must Be Infinite
From there, Faulkner’s phrase “to try and to try and to try until it comes right” defines patience not as passive waiting but as active repetition. Real learning rarely arrives in a straight line; instead, progress is built through failed drafts, awkward attempts, and gradual correction. What looks like natural ability from the outside is often the residue of unseen persistence. This idea appears across artistic history. Thomas Edison’s famous remarks on experimentation, though framed around invention rather than literature, echo the same principle: each failed attempt eliminates what does not work. Likewise, Anne Lamott’s *Bird by Bird* (1994) defends the “shitty first draft” as part of the process. Faulkner’s patience, then, is not gentle resignation but committed return.
The Meaning of Ruthless Intolerance
However, patience alone can easily become complacency, which is why Faulkner adds “ruthless intolerance.” He does not seem to call for cruelty toward people so much as severity toward one’s own laziness, imitation, and compromise. The young writer, painter, or musician must not be satisfied merely because something was difficult to make; difficulty does not guarantee quality. In that sense, Faulkner resembles Gustave Flaubert, whose letters describe an almost punishing devotion to *le mot juste*, the exact word. Flaubert’s example shows how artistic standards can feel merciless, yet they protect the work from vagueness and self-indulgence. Faulkner’s intolerance is therefore the inner voice that says: try again, because this is still not true enough.
The Tension Between Endurance and Judgment
What makes the quote memorable, then, is the tension between its two demands. Infinite patience keeps the learner from despair, while ruthless intolerance keeps the learner from settling. One quality sustains effort; the other sharpens it. Without patience, a person quits too early. Without intolerance, a person stops too soon. This dual discipline resembles the training described in Zen practice and classical music alike, where repetition and exactness are inseparable. A pianist may rehearse one passage hundreds of times, not because repetition alone is holy, but because each repetition is measured against a higher standard. Faulkner captures this paradox elegantly: growth requires both mercy toward the process and severity toward the result.
A Lesson for Youth and Ambition
Finally, Faulkner addresses “the young man or the young woman,” making the quote a lesson in formation rather than mere performance. Youth is often tempted by speed, recognition, and the fantasy of effortless brilliance. Faulkner counters that maturity begins when one learns to endure frustration and to reject mediocrity, especially in oneself. For that reason, his advice extends beyond literature. Athletes, researchers, and entrepreneurs all face the same demand to persist through repeated imperfection while maintaining high standards. Angela Duckworth’s *Grit* (2016) later popularized persistence as a predictor of achievement, yet Faulkner adds a harder edge: endurance matters most when it serves excellence. His message remains enduring because it honors both struggle and rigor.
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