Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
No one who errs unwillingly is evil.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Mistakes made without intent do not define a person's character as evil.
This quote by Sophocles highlights the idea that intentions behind actions are essential in judging morality. If someone makes a mistake or errs without wanting to cause harm, it is unjust to categorize them as evil, as the quality of one's character should consider intent and awareness.
Themes
ErrorsMoralityIntentCharacterForgiveness
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on moral philosophy, this quote can be shared to emphasize the importance of intent.
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All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
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Not even Ares battles against necessity.
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You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
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There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
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