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
If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed � but hate these things in yourself, not in another.
Interpretation
What this quote means
To promote peace, one must first confront and eliminate the negative qualities within oneself that oppose it.
This quote by Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in the pursuit of peace. Rather than directing hatred towards external injustices and tyrannies, Gandhi advocates for turning that critical lens inward, encouraging individuals to address and rectify their own inherent flaws such as greed, injustice, and tyranny. By advocating for personal accountability, he underscores that true change starts from within, and only by overcoming our own vices can we effectively contribute to a more harmonious world.
Themes
PeaceInjusticeSelf-ReflectionTransformationPersonal Growth
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about social justice, this quote could inspire audience reflection on personal biases.
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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