To forgive is not to forget. The merit lies in loving in spite of the vivid knowledge that one that must be loved is not a friend. There is not merit in loving an enemy when you forget him for a friend.
Mahatma GandhiRead
An opponent is entitled to the same regard for his principles as we would expect others to have for ours. Non-violence demands that we should see every opportunity to win over opponents.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We should respect others' beliefs and seek to persuade them peacefully rather than through violence.
This quote by Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and understanding in conflicts. It suggests that just as we expect our own principles to be respected, we must extend the same courtesy to our opponents. Gandhi advocates for non-violence, proposing that rather than fighting against opposing views, we should aim to engage with them and find avenues to win people over with compassion and understanding.
Themes
RespectNon-ViolenceUnderstandingPrinciplesOpponentsPeace
In practice
Example use cases
In a public debate, one might say this quote to advocate for respectful dialogue instead of heated arguments.
More from Mahatma Gandhi
All quotes →Love never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents never revenges itself.
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Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
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The real test of nonviolence lies in its being brought in contact with those who have contempt for it.
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Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
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The devotion of such titans of spirit as Lenin to an Ideal must bear fruit. The nobility of his selflessness will be an example through centuries to come, and his Ideal will reach perfection.
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As for myself: I had come to the conclusion that there was nothing sacred about myself or any human being, that we were all machines, doomed to collide and collide and collide. For want of anything better to do, we became fans of collisions. Sometimes I wrote well about collisions, which meant I was a writing machine in good repair. Sometimes I wrote badly, which meant I was a writing machine in bad repair. I no more harbored sacredness than did a Pontiac, a mousetrap, or a South Bend Lathe.
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When He gives, He shows you His Kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power. And in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness.
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