--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will be merciful, and I will believe in…" description: "\"I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am to err, I will err on the side of mercy. I will give people the benefit of the doubt. I will ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg" --- # I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am… ![“I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am to err, I will err on the side of mercy. I will give people the benefit of the doubt. I will bend, but not break, in order to give people the opportunity to grow and develop.” quote by David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg) > “I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am to err, I will err on the side of mercy. I will give people the benefit of the doubt. I will bend, but not break, in order to give people the opportunity to grow and develop.” [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker pledges to act with compassion, granting others the benefit of the doubt and allowing room for growth despite mistakes. **In simple terms:** Be kind and give people chances to improve. Key Takeaway Practice mercy and flexibility. Themes compassion trust growth Mood empathetic optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team leadership - parenting - coaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts empathy psychological safety resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance mercy with accountability? - When should you set firm boundaries? A Different Perspective Mercy may be exploited by those who do not change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe In People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-people/) [Believe People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-people/) [Benefit of the doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefit-of-the-doubt/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Err Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/err-mercy-2839509/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful/) [Merciful Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful-believe-6132614/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in so much - I believe in people. I believe in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-believe-in-so-much-i-believe-in-people-i-believe-in-hope/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [I think the greatest thing in the world is to believe in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/i-think-the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-to-believe-in-people/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [I believe in people living their lives and having privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-believe-in-people-living-their-lives-and-having-privacy/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [It takes a lot to still believe in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/it-takes-a-lot-to-still-believe-in-people/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [“I prefer to say that I believe in people, and people, when given the right encouragement to think for themselves about all the information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-prefer-to-say-that-i-believe-in-people-and-people-when-given-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“I don’t have much faith in institutions, but I still believe in people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/i-don-t-have-much-faith-in-institutions-but-i-still-believe-in-people/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [I don't believe in America, but I believe in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-dunham/i-don-t-believe-in-america-but-i-believe-in-people/) [Grace Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-dunham/) > [“I believe in people. In their resilience, in their goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lord/i-believe-in-people-in-their-resilience-in-their-goodness/) [Emery Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lord/) > [“I realize i do believe in people. In their strength to help each other, and to thrive in spite of the odds. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-realize-i-do-believe-in-people-in-their-strength-to-help-each-other/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [For success of your endurement you believe in people who believe what you believe, they will work for you with blood & sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/for-success-of-your-endurement-you-believe-in-people-who-believe-what/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“At some point, you have to decide not merely what you're going to believe, but how you're going to believe. Are you going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/at-some-point-you-have-to-decide-not-merely-what-you-re-going-to/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I don't think that I have ever been rebellious. The thing is that I don't believe in people - what people tell me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-don-t-think-that-i-have-ever-been-rebellious-the-thing-is-that-i/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [“I believe in love but I do not believe in people. And it is people who realize me. to Do not believe in People”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/i-believe-in-love-but-i-do-not-believe-in-people-and-it-is-people-who/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [I don't believe in angels and I have trouble with the whole God thing. I don't want to say I don't believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-don-t-believe-in-angels-and-i-have-trouble-with-the-whole-god-thing/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [When you believe in people, you motivate them and release their potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/when-you-believe-in-people-you-motivate-them-and-release-their/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More by David K. Bernard > [The Bible nowhere states that people before the law observed the Sabbath as a day of rest or worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/the-bible-nowhere-states-that-people-before-the-law-observed-the/) [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) > [Modesty needs to come from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/modesty-needs-to-come-from-the-heart/) [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) > [“The death of the innocent, sinless Christ and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us satisfy God’s justice and holiness. If, however, we reject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/the-death-of-the-innocent-sinless-christ-and-the-imputation-of-christ/) [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) > [“...it is a mistake to reduce every decision about Christian living to a "Heaven-or-Hell issue." For example, some ask if the Bible specifically says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/it-is-a-mistake-to-reduce-every-decision-about-christian-living-to-a/) [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) > [A woman's long hair symbolizes that she submits to God's plan and to the family leadership of her husband. It is her glory. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/a-woman-s-long-hair-symbolizes-that-she-submits-to-god-s-plan-and-to/) [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) [Explore all 6 David K. Bernard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am to err, I will err on the side of mercy. I will give people the benefit of the doubt. I will bend, but not break, in order to give people the opportunity to grow and develop.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David K. Bernard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in-people-if-i-am-to-err-i-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in-people-if-i-am-to-err-i-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/david-k-bernard-57146_believe_i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in_3234656.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am to err, I will err on the side of mercy. I will…” — David K. Bernard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David K. Bernard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I will be merciful, and I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in-people-if-i-am-to-err-i-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in-people-if-i-am-to-err-i-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```