Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Bacon says revenge equalizes, but pardoning shows superiority, fitting a prince’s role.
- In plain terms
- Revenge makes you even; forgiveness makes you higher.
- What can you take from it?
- Choose forgiveness to demonstrate true strength.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is forgiveness more powerful than retaliation?
- How does power influence the choice?
Another view
Forgiveness may be seen as weakness in some cultures.
More from Francis Bacon
Base and crafty cowards are like the arrow that flieth in the dark.
Permalink to quote #72 It is yet a higher speech of his than the other, 'It is true greatness to have in one the frailty of a man and the security of a god.'
Permalink to quote #74 Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.
Permalink to quote #71
Related quotes
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
Oscar WildeOscar Wilde quote #227 My punishment is far heavier, I forgive you, and set you free.
Alp ArslanAlp Arslan quote #3 He who will establish himself on a certain height must yield according to circumstances, like the weather-cock on a church-spire, which, though it be made of i…
Heinrich HeineHeinrich Heine quote #8