Patience

I've been thinking about that whole "patience is a virtue" thing. I think I get it.

This has to be experienced, you cannot just sit and think about the meaning of something being a virtue (which actually means excellence in standard of morality).

Either you are patient or you are not. To be patient with someone or something that is mildly bothersome is not difficult. It is also not really patience, as it has not been tested for its standard of excellence. Let's say for argument's sake that this is only forbearance or leniency.

Imagine the worst you could stand from another human being. Next imagine that you have no feeling for this human being, or obligation towards him/her. And without reason or prompting you allow that worst you could stand from him/her everyday... for years.

Your only justification being that this human being was in need, and you were striving towards that standard of excellence.

Is Patience a victim or a virtue?