For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
Interpretation
Human nature tends to be more judgmental than forgiving.
In the quote, Hobbes emphasizes that people find it easier to blame others rather than offer understanding or forgiveness. He suggests that the act of condemning someone often feels more justified and aligns with an innate human propensity for judgment, contrasting this with the challenge of providing absolution, which requires a greater level of eloquence and compassion.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion on ethics and morality in a philosophy class.
Baptism is the sacrament of allegiance of them that are to be received into the Kingdom of God, that is to say, into Eternal life, that is to say, to Remission of Sin. For as Eternal life was lost by the committing, so it is recovered by the remitting of men's sins.
Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.
For it is not the shape, but their use, that makes them angels.
Scientia potentia est, sed parva; quia scientia egregia rara est, nec proinde apparens nisi paucissimis, et in paucis rebus. Scientiae enim ea natura est, ut esse intelligi non possit, nisi ab illis qui sunt scientia praediti.
The end of knowledge is power ... the scope of all speculation is the performing of some action or thing to be done.
They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that dislike it, heresy; and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion.
I wish we didn't live in a world where buying and selling things seems to have become almost more important than either producing or using them.
That he who hath the loan of money has not repaid it, and he who has repaid has not the loan; but he who has acknowledged a kindness has it still, and he who has a feeling of it has requited it.
Don't seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptuneβs ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.β βMy hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white. A little water clears us of this deed: How easy it is then! Your constancy hath left you unattended.
Secrecy, once accepted, becomes an addiction.
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life-gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.