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Beware of the man who does not return your blow: he neither forgives you nor allows you to forgive yourself.
George Bernard Shaw
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that someone who does not retaliate is not truly forgiving, impacting both your conscience and their own.

George Bernard Shaw's quote warns us against individuals who do not respond to personal offenses. It implies that such a person's silence or lack of retaliation fosters an unspoken tension, as they neither grant you forgiveness nor allow themselves to move past the conflict, ultimately trapping both parties in unresolved feelings of resentment.

Themes

ForgivenessResentmentConflictPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about conflict resolution, you could use this quote to emphasize the importance of genuine forgiveness.

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