--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one is strong be also merciful, so…" description: "\"If one is strong be also merciful, so that one's neighbors may respect one rather than fear one.\" — Chilon of Sparta" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/chilon-of-sparta-39244_good-life_if-one-is-strong-be-also-merciful-so-tha_1765237.jpg" --- # If one is strong be also merciful, so that one's neighbors… ![“If one is strong be also merciful, so that one's neighbors may respect one rather than fear one.” quote by Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/chilon-of-sparta-39244_good-life_if-one-is-strong-be-also-merciful-so-tha_1765237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/chilon-of-sparta-39244_good-life_if-one-is-strong-be-also-merciful-so-tha_1765237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/chilon-of-sparta-39244_good-life_if-one-is-strong-be-also-merciful-so-tha_1765237.jpg) > “If one is strong be also merciful, so that one's neighbors may respect one rather than fear one.” [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strength should be paired with mercy so neighbors respect you rather than fear you **In simple terms:** Be strong and kind for respect Key Takeaway Practice compassion alongside power Themes leadership ethics respect Mood thoughtful serious Type maxim ethical When to use this quote - political leadership - parenting - conflict resolution Key Concepts virtue ethics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you show strength without intimidation? - When does mercy become a liability? A Different Perspective Mercy may be seen as weakness if not genuine ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Neighbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbors/) ## Related quotes > [When strong, be merciful, if you would have the respect, not the fear of your neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-strong-be-merciful-if-you-would-have-the-respect-not-the-fear-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angles protect, and heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angles-protect-and/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [May your neighbors respect you, Trouble neglect you, Angels protect you, and heaven accepts you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect-you-2/) MlY AB > [May your neighbors respect you , trouble neglect you , angels protect you , & heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect-you/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [May your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, angels protect you and heven except you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-troubles-neglect-you-angels-protect/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“May your neighbors respect you, Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you, And heaven accept you. Irish blessing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-thompson/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-the-angels-protect/) [Janice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-thompson/) > [May your neighbors respect you. Trouble neglect you. Angels protect you. & heaven except you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect-you-4/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [When we rebuild Kentucky and boost our economy, we need to do it the right way. That means treating our neighbors with the respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-beshear/when-we-rebuild-kentucky-and-boost-our-economy-we-need-to-do-it-the/) [Andy Beshear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-beshear/) > [May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you and Heaven accept you... I thank you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibongiseni-ncanana/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect-you-3/) Sibongiseni Ncanana > [Americans have the right to say what they believe. But with that right comes the responsibility to respect our neighbors, respect law enforcement, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-baucus/americans-have-the-right-to-say-what-they-believe-but-with-that-right/) [Max Baucus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-baucus/) > [“Here’s a nice Irish saying for you: May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/here-s-a-nice-irish-saying-for-you-may-neighbors-respect-you-trouble/) [Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/) > [May your Neighbors RESPECT you , Trouble NEGLECT you , Angels PROTECTS you , && Heaven ACCEPTS you ,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protects/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Do not make too much haste on one's road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/do-not-make-too-much-haste-on-one-s-road/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Do not let one's tongue outrun one's sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/do-not-let-one-s-tongue-outrun-one-s-sense/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Learn how to regulate one's own house well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/learn-how-to-regulate-one-s-own-house-well/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) ## More by Chilon of Sparta > [Do not make too much haste on one's road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/do-not-make-too-much-haste-on-one-s-road/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Learn how to regulate one's own house well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/learn-how-to-regulate-one-s-own-house-well/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Do not let one's tongue outrun one's sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/do-not-let-one-s-tongue-outrun-one-s-sense/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Do nothing immoderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/do-nothing-immoderate/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [A youthful age is desirable, but aged youth is troublesome and grievous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/a-youthful-age-is-desirable-but-aged-youth-is-troublesome-and-grievous/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [The tongue should not be suffered to outrun the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/the-tongue-should-not-be-suffered-to-outrun-the-mind/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [Prefer punishment to disgraceful gain; for the one is painful but once, but the other for one's whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/prefer-punishment-to-disgraceful-gain-for-the-one-is-painful-but-once/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [What is difficult? To keep a secret, to employ leisure well, to be able to bear an injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/what-is-difficult-to-keep-a-secret-to-employ-leisure-well-to-be-able/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [As the touchstone tries gold, so gold tries men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/as-the-touchstone-tries-gold-so-gold-tries-men/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) > [If you confer a benefit, never remember it; if you receive one, never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chilon-of-sparta/if-you-confer-a-benefit-never-remember-it-if-you-receive-one-never/) [Chilon of Sparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) [Explore all 11 Chilon of Sparta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chilon-of-sparta/) ## More Good life quotes > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. 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The Pretty Good Life would be just fine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/we-don-t-need-the-good-life-the-pretty-good-life-would-be-just-fine/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [In the games of queens and kings, we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/in-the-games-of-queens-and-kings-we-leave-our-dreams-at-the-door-and/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/a-second-characteristic-of-the-process-which-for-me-is-the-good-life/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [“A child says ‘Thank God for my good dinner’. What can I say at seventy-five? ‘Thank God for my good life, and for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/a-child-says-thank-god-for-my-good-dinner-what-can-i-say-at-seventy/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Our lives together, our duet, also continues to evolve, and even if we can’t go back to how it was, we’re designing a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/our-lives-together-our-duet-also-continues-to-evolve-and-even-if-we/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/) [Robert A. 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