Perseverance means to continue in a given course until we have reached a goal or objective, regardless of obstacles, opposition, and other counterinfluences. . . Perseverance is a positive, active characteristic. . . It gives us hope by helping us realize that the righteous suffer no failure except in giving up and no longer trying.
Many species reciprocate, but only humans gossip, and much of what we gossip about is the vale of other people as partners for reciprocal relationships.