Progress isn’t linear; it’s a messy, winding road. This quote from Marc Perry nails the reality that true growth is never a straight line. It’s about embracing the entire journey, not just the high points.
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Meaning
The core message is simple but profound: real growth is full of ups and downs, and your ability to be patient during the downs is what actually builds your strength.
Explanation
Look, we’ve all been there. You’re grinding away, hitting the gym, eating right, and then bam—you hit a plateau. Or maybe you even regress a little. It’s frustrating. It feels like failure. But here’s the thing Perry is getting at: that setback, that moment where you feel stuck, that’s not a stop sign. That’s the forge. That’s where the real work happens, not just on your body, but on your mind. Patience is the tool that allows you to sit in that discomfort and let it transform you. It’s what turns a moment of weakness into a foundation of strength. It’s a non-negotiable part of the process.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Category | Personal Development (745) |
| Topics | patience (57), progress (56), resilience (122) |
| Literary Style | poetic (719), reflective (256) |
| Emotion / Mood | hopeful (373) |
| Overall Quote Score | 78 (185) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Marc Perry’s 2013 book, Built Lean, which was published in the United States. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around unattributed, but the specific phrasing is Perry’s, born from his experience in the fitness world.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Marc Perry (57) |
| Source Type | Book (4638) |
| Source/Book Name | Built Lean: The Bodybuilding Guide for Men and Women Who Want to Lose Fat and Build Muscle (57) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1995) |
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4638) |
Author Bio
Marc D. Perry studies how hip hop and performance shape Black identity, citizenship, and everyday life in the Caribbean and the Americas. An associate professor and author of Negro Soy Yo: Hip Hop and Raced Citizenship in Neoliberal Cuba, he engages anthropology and African American studies to analyze culture, politics, and belonging. The Marc Perry book list emphasizes ethnography and critical theory, and his teaching, writing, and public talks translate complex scholarship into accessible insights about race and culture.
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Progress isn’t linear; patience turns setbacks into strength |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2019; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781097511885; Last edition: 2019; Number of pages: 240 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 8: Staying the Course, page 162 / 240 |