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
I am but a poor struggling soul yearning to be wholly good, wholly truthful and wholly non-violent in thought, word and deed, but ever failing to reach the ideal which I know to be true. It is a painful climb, but each step upwards makes me feel stronger and fit for the next.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the struggle for personal growth and the pursuit of goodness despite continuous challenges.
Mahatma Gandhi expresses a deep yearning for moral perfection, highlighting the difficulty of achieving true goodness, truthfulness, and non-violence in every aspect of life. He acknowledges his imperfections and failures while emphasizing that each effort to improve is a valuable step that contributes to his strength and resilience in striving towards his ideals.
Themes
StruggleGoodnessTruthNon-ViolenceGrowthIdealPerfection
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal integrity and moral responsibility.
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.
Mahatma GandhiRead
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