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
H. G. Wells was not the only one to mention Churchill and Hitler in the same breath: "Churchill and Hitler are striving to change the nature of their respective countrymen by forcing and hammering violent methods on them. Man may be suppressed in this manner but he cannot be changed. Ahimsa [non-violence in the Hindu tradition], on the other hand, can change human nature and sooner than men like Churchill and Hitler."
Interpretation
What this quote means
Gandhi contrasts violent methods of change with non-violent approaches, emphasizing that true transformation requires peace rather than force.
In this quote, Mahatma Gandhi critiques the violent approaches of leaders like Churchill and Hitler, arguing that while they may suppress individuals, such coercion cannot lead to true change in human nature. Instead, Gandhi advocates for 'ahimsa' or non-violence, suggesting that enduring and meaningful change can only come from peaceful means that respect human dignity. This underscores the belief that violence fosters only resentment, whereas non-violence can foster authentic transformation in people.
Themes
AhimsaNon-ViolenceHuman NatureChangePeace
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on social justice, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of peaceful activism.
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.
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