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About this quote

What does it mean?
One should condemn wrongful actions while maintaining compassion for the person who committed them.
In plain terms
Critique bad behavior but care for the person doing it.
What can you take from it?
Separate the deed from the doer in your judgment.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • parenting
  • ethical debates

Putting it to work

  • critique actions not people
  • practice empathy

Questions to consider

  • How do you balance justice and mercy?
  • Can you hate a deed and still love a person?

Another view

Distinguishing sin from sinner can be difficult in cases of repeated harm.

More from Mahatma Gandhi

  1. God has no religion.

    Permalink to quote #144
  2. Hatred ever kills, love never dies - such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred…

    Permalink to quote #146
  3. For this cause I too am prepared to die, but for no cause, my friend, will I be prepared to kill.

    Permalink to quote #143

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