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
It ill becomes us to invoke in our daily prayers the blessings of God, the Compassionate, if we in turn will not practice elementary compassion toward our fellow creatures.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True compassion must be reciprocated in our actions toward others.
Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes that it is hypocritical to seek divine compassion if we do not display the same level of compassion in our everyday interactions with others. This statement reflects the idea that spiritual or moral practices should translate into real-world behavior, highlighting the importance of acting with kindness and empathy toward all living beings.
Themes
CompassionKindnessPrayerEmpathyAction
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a community meeting focused on charity work.
More from Mahatma Gandhi
All quotes βLove never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents never revenges itself.
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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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