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 good man is the friend of all living things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A virtuous person shows kindness and compassion towards all forms of life.
This quote by Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes the importance of empathy and kindness in human relationships, extending to all living beings. It suggests that a good person naturally cultivates friendships and bonds with others—whether they are human or non-human—highlighting the interconnectedness of life and the moral responsibility to treat all living creatures with respect and care.
Themes
Good ManFriendshipLiving ThingsCompassionEmpathy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a speech on environmental conservation.
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.
Mahatma GandhiRead
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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One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss, but in the number of things they need no longer mention.
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