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About this quote

What does it mean?
Forgiving someone generously can hurt a proud person more than punishment would.
In plain terms
Generous forgiveness can sting more than anger.
What can you take from it?
Forgiveness can be a heavy gift.

Where it applies

  • conflict
  • apology
  • relationships

Putting it to work

  • accept forgiveness gracefully
  • reflect on actions

Questions to consider

  • Why does forgiveness hurt?
  • How do you handle being forgiven?

Another view

Most people prefer forgiveness to punishment.

More from Samuel Richardson

  1. Love gratified, is love satisfied - and love satisfied, is indifference begun.

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  2. Vast is the field of Science ... the more a man knows, the more he will find he has to know.

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  3. I am forced, as I have often said, to try to make myself laugh, that I may not cry: for one or other I must do.

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