New York Public Library lions 'Patience' and 'Fortitude'

Two marble lion statues flank the entrance of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library and are popularly nicknamed 'Patience' and 'Fortitude,' a pair of names popularized during the 1930s. The statues at the main branch have appeared frequently in photographs, seasonal dress-ups, and internet memes referencing New York culture. They remain iconic symbols of the library and are commonly used in social-media posts.