--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but…" description: "\"I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking, that can only mean as you're to give up all thoughts o' taking revenge: it can never mean as y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/george-eliot-84_back-again_i-know-forgiveness-is-a-man-s-duty-but-t_425993.png" --- # I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking… ![“I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking, that can only mean as you're to give up all thoughts o' taking revenge: it can never mean as you're t' have your old feelings back again, for that's not possible.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/george-eliot-84_back-again_i-know-forgiveness-is-a-man-s-duty-but-t_425993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/george-eliot-84_back-again_i-know-forgiveness-is-a-man-s-duty-but-t_425993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/george-eliot-84_back-again_i-know-forgiveness-is-a-man-s-duty-but-t_425993.png) > “I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking, that can only mean as you're to give up all thoughts o' taking revenge: it can never mean as you're t' have your old feelings back again, for that's not possible.” [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness means letting go of vengeance, not reclaiming past grievances. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness releases revenge. Key Takeaway Release anger, move forward. Themes forgiveness humility emotional health relationships Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal healing - relationship repair - community building Key Concepts ethics psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - Can you forgive without forgetting? - How does forgiveness affect personal growth? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may be difficult without genuine remorse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-feelings/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Taking revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-revenge/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Simply coming to the perpetrator and delivering the message is Nozick's definition of revenge. And in that sense, Adi is exacting revenge. When people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/simply-coming-to-the-perpetrator-and-delivering-the-message-is-nozick/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [Forgiveness is man's deepest need and highest achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/forgiveness-is-man-s-deepest-need-and-highest-achievement/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [“How should all the apparatus of heaven and earth make poetry for a mind that had no movements of awe and tenderness, no sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/how-should-all-the-apparatus-of-heaven-and-earth-make-poetry-for-a/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“As soon as the words leave her mouth, I'm completely consumed by a sense of peace. For the first time since the second she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/as-soon-as-the-words-leave-her-mouth-i-m-completely-consumed-by-a/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Forgive: if you never know forgiveness, You'll never know the blessings that God gives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/forgive-if-you-never-know-forgiveness-you-ll-never-know-the-blessings/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Forgiveness is a stunning principal, your ticket out of hate and fear and chaos. I know what regret feels like; I've earned my credentials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/forgiveness-is-a-stunning-principal-your-ticket-out-of-hate-and-fear/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [“You heard form Jacob these days?" "No, which is the way I wish it to be," Aaron said quietly. Ephram shook his head. "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-picoult/you-heard-form-jacob-these-days-no-which-is-the-way-i-wish-it-to-be/) [Jodie picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-picoult/) > [“And yet we know that forgiveness is a foundation stone in the kingdom of God. It’s absolutely critical. Forgive us our trespasses as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mccord/and-yet-we-know-that-forgiveness-is-a-foundation-stone-in-the-kingdom/) [Kate McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mccord/) > [We will know our forgiveness is complete when we have a genuine desire for the welfare of the people who have wronged us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-h-pearce/we-will-know-our-forgiveness-is-complete-when-we-have-a-genuine/) [Virginia H. Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-h-pearce/) > [You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who have hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-know-that-forgiveness-has-begun-when-you-recall-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At the time, I didn't know what forgiveness meant. I wouldn't really know what forgiveness meant for another year, until my pastor, Rick McKinley,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/at-the-time-i-didn-t-know-what-forgiveness-meant-i-wouldn-t-really/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I also am other than what I imagine myself to be. To know this is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/i-also-am-other-than-what-i-imagine-myself-to-be-to-know-this-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [You will know that forgiveness and healing has begun when you recall those who have hurt you and feel the power to wish them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/you-will-know-that-forgiveness-and-healing-has-begun-when-you-recall/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [Forgiveness is a stunning principle, your ticket out of hate and fear and chaos. ... I know what regret feels like; I've earned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/forgiveness-is-a-stunning-principle-your-ticket-out-of-hate-and-fear/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [A stranger can see in an instant something in you that you might spend years learning about yourself. How awful we all are when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-elliott/a-stranger-can-see-in-an-instant-something-in-you-that-you-might/) [Stephen Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-elliott/) ## More by George Eliot > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-the-effect-of-her-being-on-those-around-her-was-incalculably/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Scepticismcan never be thoroughly applied, else life would come to a standstill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/scepticismcan-never-be-thoroughly-applied-else-life-would-come-to-a/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Under every guilty secret there is hidden a brood of guilty wishes, whose unwholesome infecting life is cherished by the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/under-every-guilty-secret-there-is-hidden-a-brood-of-guilty-wishes/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [The most powerful movement of feeling with a liturgy is the prayer which seeks for nothing special, but is a yearning to escape from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/the-most-powerful-movement-of-feeling-with-a-liturgy-is-the-prayer/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Mr. Casaubon had never had a strong bodily frame, and his soul was sensitive without being enthusiastic: it was too languid to thrill out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/mr-casaubon-had-never-had-a-strong-bodily-frame-and-his-soul-was/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“... she took her husband's jokes and joviality as patiently as everything else, considering that "men would be so", and viewing the stronger sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/she-took-her-husband-s-jokes-and-joviality-as-patiently-as-everything/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [What is opportunity to the man who can't use it? An unfecundated egg, which the waves of time wash away into nonentity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/what-is-opportunity-to-the-man-who-can-t-use-it-an-unfecundated-egg/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/and-of-course-men-know-best-about-everything-except-what-women-know/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“But let the wise be warned against too great readiness at explanation: it multiplies the sources of mistake, lengthening the sum for reckoners sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-let-the-wise-be-warned-against-too-great-readiness-at-explanation/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“But any one watching keenly the stealthy convergence of human lots, sees a slow preparation of effects from one life on another, which tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-any-one-watching-keenly-the-stealthy-convergence-of-human-lots/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Perspective, as its inventor remarked, is a beautiful thing. What horrors of damp huts, where human beings languish, may not become picturesque through aerial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/perspective-as-its-inventor-remarked-is-a-beautiful-thing-what/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Sane people did what their neighbours did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/sane-people-did-what-their-neighbours-did-so-that-if-any-lunatics/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [even those who call themselves 'intimate' know very little about each other - hardly ever know just how a sorrow is felt, and hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/even-those-who-call-themselves-intimate-know-very-little-about-each/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) [Explore all 1,492 George Eliot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## More Back again quotes > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Don´t be unnecessarily burdened by the past. Go on closing the chapters that you have read; there is no need to go back again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/don-t-be-unnecessarily-burdened-by-the-past-go-on-closing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I was acquainted once with a gallant soldier who assured me that his only measure of courage was this: upon the first fire, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-was-acquainted-once-with-a-gallant-soldier-who-assured-me-that-his/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [You look out into the audience and you see so much joy on people's faces. You make eye contact with people who are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-look-out-into-the-audience-and-you-see-so-much-joy-on-people-s/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [Sometimes people hurt us unintentionally. We may view that they've hurt us intentionally and want revenge. But sometimes when we really look back again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-wright/sometimes-people-hurt-us-unintentionally-we-may-view-that-they-ve/) [Cindy Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-wright/) > [If we with earnest effort could succeed To make our life one long, connected prayer, As lives of some, perhaps, have been and are;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/if-we-with-earnest-effort-could-succeed-to-make-our-life-one-long/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [In a sermon entitled “God's Providence,” C. H. 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But all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/how-long-were-the-stretches-of-toilsome-tacking-back-and-forth-of/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [I watched them from the window, thy children at their play, And I thought of all my own dear friends, who were far, oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/i-watched-them-from-the-window-thy-children-at-their-play-and-i/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [ \[My advice\] will one day be found With other relics of 'a former world,' When this world shall be former, underground, Thrown topsy-turvy, twisted,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/my-advice-will-one-day-be-found-with-other-relics-of-a-former-world/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I laugh, that there's a certain kind of cyclical nature to life and that I don't have to worry because whatever isn't there right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-laugh-that-there-s-a-certain-kind-of-cyclical-nature-to-life-and/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [Home, I learned, can be anywhere you make it. 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