I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.

Summary

This quote highlights the distinction between forgiving someone's wrongdoing and forgetting the action entirely. It suggests that claiming to forgive but not forget is essentially refusing to truly extend forgiveness. The quote argues that true forgiveness is akin to completely discarding and erasing the memory of the offense, ensuring it can never be recalled or held against the person who committed it. Ultimately, it encourages a more wholehearted and transformative approach to forgiveness, rather than a conditional or partial one.

Topics