What is the difference between patience and tolerance?

No, different. In my mind, patience involves waiting for something, without judgement. Tolerance involves some degree of value judgement about something, which may or may not be related in any way to waiting for it.

Well said, @Pachy.

To me, patience means waiting calmly. Tolerance means allowing something while still holding a value judgement about that thing. They are not similar.

Tolerance has the air of “I’m putting up with it but I don’t like it. Push me too hard and you’ll be sorry!” My old dog tolerated our cat. Actually she was terrified of her! If cornered, I’m sure she would have fought. When my kids were small I tolerated their nonsense, but you can bet I had my limits.

Here’s the freedictionary.com definition of patient.

1. the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper, or anger.
2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.
3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence

So no, I’m not tolerant.

I am absolutely patient and loving though. But even with all that, I maintain appropriate boundaries, which helps me to rarely lose my temper.

Patience is for something absent that is desired. Tolerance is for something present that is not. They are similar in combining a stressful state with a lack of action.

Patience is about the ability to wait out or not force an issue, while tolerance is more about the ability to abide or endure. Patience requires tolerance, but patience is not always necessary for tolerance. For example, no patience is required to tolerate bad table manners if you don’t care about etiquette.

Tolerate means you just put up with something or deal with it.
Patience is accepting something in a calm manner.

Well, a few crummy analogies, ok? Patience is sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the Interstate for an hour, without blowing your stack. Tolerance is allowing a wing nut acquaintance to rant about Obama and Jade Helm , and not going off on him / her that they are certifiably insane.