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
Government control gives rise to fraud, suppression of Truth, intensification of the black market and artificial scarcity. Above all, it unmans the people and deprives them of initiative, it undoes the teaching of self-help.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Government control leads to negative consequences, including loss of initiative and self-reliance among people.
In this quote, Gandhi argues that when a government exerts excessive control over its citizens, it not only fosters fraud and dishonesty but also suppresses the truth and creates artificial shortages. This environment ultimately undermines individual initiative and self-help, suggesting that empowerment and personal responsibility are crucial for a thriving society.
Themes
GovernmentControlFraudTruthInitiativeSelf-Help
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about economic policies, one might reference this quote to argue against government overreach.
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