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
Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs... Surely it would be a crime against humanity to reduce the proud Arabs so that Palestine can be restored to the Jews partly or wholly as their national home
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the idea of rightful ownership and respect for a people's homeland.
Mahatma Gandhi's statement reflects a philosophical perspective on national identity and human rights, arguing that just as England is inherently linked to the English and France to the French, Palestine is inherently linked to the Arabs. Gandhi critiques the imposition of one group upon another, warning against the moral implications of displacing a proud community in the name of establishing another group's homeland.
Themes
PalestineArabsJewsHumanityRights
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to emphasize the importance of recognizing the rightful home of people.
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