Patient Persistance Always Prevails

Someone told me once that I was the most impatient, patient person they had ever met. I looked up the definition of patience. It is of Greek origin and literally means "to suffer". So why is patience viewed as such a good thing?

"Patience can be a great virtue, while learning to push ahead often proves invaluable to those who prevail; but only a marriage of these two spirits can grant us true success, because in their union we are empowered with a calm and steady watchfulness that is always ready and willing to act."