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
The seeker after truth should be humbler than the dust. The world crushes the dust under its feet, but the seeker after truth should so humble himself that even the dust could crush him. Only then, and not till then, will he have a glimpse of truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit of truth requires profound humility and selflessness.
This quote emphasizes that in the quest for truth, one must adopt a stance of ultimate humility, even lower than the dust that is often overlooked. Gandhi suggests that a true seeker should not only recognize their own limitations but also approach truth with an open and unpretentious heart, allowing them to perceive deeper realities which might otherwise remain hidden to a proud or arrogant spirit.
Themes
TruthHumilityKnowledgeSelflessnessWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of humility in spiritual growth.
More from Mahatma Gandhi
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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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