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
One needs to be slow to form convictions, but once formed they must be defended against the heaviest odds.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Take time to develop beliefs, but stand firm in them once established.
This quote emphasizes the importance of thoughtful consideration before forming strong opinions or beliefs. It suggests that while we should be cautious and deliberate in our convictions, once we have established them, we should be prepared to defend them with resilience against challenges and opposition.
Themes
ConvictionsDefenseWisdomBeliefsResilience
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate about ethics, one could cite this quote to emphasize the importance of defending one's beliefs.
More from Mahatma Gandhi
All quotes βLove 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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Incidentally, when we're faced with a "prove or disprove," we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A disproof is potentially easier (we need just one counterexample); and nitpicking arouses our creative juices. Even if the given assertion is true, our search for a counterexample often leads to a proof, as soon as we see why a counterexample is impossible. Besides, it's healthy to be skeptical.
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