Hillsdale College

Perseverance

Pursue what is good with unwavering persistence.

StoriesPoemsLives of Virtue

Perseverance is the moral virtue that enables one to persist in practicing good actions despite the challenges that result from a continuous effort. Through the habit of perseverance, reason governs the aversion to sustained suffering and discomfort, ensuring that one neither surrenders too quickly to weariness nor continues in a particular course of action beyond what is reasonable. Though all virtues are stable habits, they require the aid of perseverance to attain the perfection that results from a lifelong effort.

The virtue of perseverance allows us to push onward despite difficulty and hardship.

Related Virtues

Courage

Featured Stories

The Velveteen RabbitMargery Williams
Grade K-2

Story

The Little Hero of HollandFrom The Children’s Book of VirtuesWilliam J. Bennett
Grade 1-2

Story

Charlotte’s WebE.B. White
Grade 2-3

Story

Farmer BoyLaura Ingalls Wilder
Grade 3-5

Story

Johnny TremainEsther Hoskins Forbes
Grade 4-6

Story

The Little Red HenPaul Galdone
Grade K-1

Story

More Stories

Featured Biographies

A Picture Book of Thomas Alva EdisonDavid A. Adler
Grade K-2

Biography

Giving Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National HolidayGiving Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Grade K-3

Biography

Anne Frank: A Kid's Book About HopeMary Nhìn
Grade K-3

Biography

Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved ThanksgivingLaurie Halse Anderson
Grade K-3

Biography

Six Dots. A Story of Young Louis BrailleJen Bryant
Grade K-3

Biography

Bread for WordsShana Keller
Grade K-4

Biography

More Biographies
Poems about Perseverance

Behind him lay the gray Azores, Behind the Gates of Hercules...

Columbus
By Joaquin Miller
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How doth the little busy bee  Improve each shining hour...

How Doth the Little Busy Bee
By Isaac Watts
Read More of How Doth the Little Busy Bee

Lives of Virtue

Frederick DouglassFor his unflinching honesty in sharing his life experience, for his courage in escaping injustice, and for his relentless pursuit of justice, Frederick Douglass exemplifies moral virtue.  
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln exemplified virtue through his steadfast commitment to justice and the preservation of the Union, guiding the nation with moral clarity and courage during its darkest hours.
George Washington
George WashingtonThanks to his integrity, humility, courage, and wisdom, George Washington has long been known as one of the greatest leaders in American history.
Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony tirelessly advocated for women's suffrage and equality with unwavering courage and moral conviction.
More Lives of Virtue