--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great souls forgive not injuries till…" description: "\"Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their enemies within their power, that they may show forgiveness is their own.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/john-dryden-491_enemy_great-souls-forgive-not-injuries-till-ti_847674.jpg" --- # Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their… ![“Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their enemies within their power, that they may show forgiveness is their own.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/john-dryden-491_enemy_great-souls-forgive-not-injuries-till-ti_847674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/john-dryden-491_enemy_great-souls-forgive-not-injuries-till-ti_847674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/john-dryden-491_enemy_great-souls-forgive-not-injuries-till-ti_847674.jpg) > “Great souls forgive not injuries till time has put their enemies within their power, that they may show forgiveness is their own.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may with forgive only when they have the power to do so, turning forgiveness into a deliberate choice. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness comes when you can control the situation. Key Takeaway Seek power before expecting forgiveness. Themes forgiveness power control Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal conflict - political negotiation - family disputes - legal settlements Key Concepts agency humility justice Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt powerless to forgive? - Can forgiveness be genuine without power? A Different Perspective Power dynamics can prevent genuine forgiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-within/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Great souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-souls/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Only the big souls can forgive the big crimes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-the-big-souls-can-forgive-the-big-crimes/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Women forgive injuries, but never forget slights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/women-forgive-injuries-but-never-forget-slights/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Scarcely any law of our Redeemer is more openly transgressed, or more industriously evaded, than that by which he commands his followers to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/scarcely-any-law-of-our-redeemer-is-more-openly-transgressed-or-more/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [As a Christian should do no injuries to others, so he should forgive the injuries that others do to him. It is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-venning/as-a-christian-should-do-no-injuries-to-others-so-he-should-forgive/) [Ralph Venning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-venning/) > [I can forgive injuries, but never benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-can-forgive-injuries-but-never-benefits/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Let us forget and forgive injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/let-us-forget-and-forgive-injuries/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a Crucifix, and think that Christ shed all His Blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-neri/if-a-man-finds-it-very-hard-to-forgive-injuries-let-him-look-at-a/) [Philip Neri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-neri/) > [While There may be power in forgiveness, there is even more power in lobbing a Molotov cocktail through someone's dining room window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/while-there-may-be-power-in-forgiveness-there-is-even-more-power-in/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [“I'm just saying love has a lot to do with the power of forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sawyer-bennett/i-m-just-saying-love-has-a-lot-to-do-with-the-power-of-forgiveness/) [Sawyer Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sawyer-bennett/) > [There is power in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/there-is-power-in-forgiveness/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [The power of forgiveness is huge; it is really big, and it can save this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/the-power-of-forgiveness-is-huge-it-is-really-big-and-it-can-save/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [The power of forgiveness transcends personal relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-power-of-forgiveness-transcends-personal-relationships/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The Power of Forgiveness Research shows that practicing forgiveness will make you happier, improves your health, strengthens relationships. In terms of it being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackburn/the-power-of-forgiveness-research-shows-that-practicing-forgiveness/) Susan Blackburn > [In Jones's experience, the decision to turn one's life around in a different direction rarely arrived with fireworks and marching bands. Often, the decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/in-jones-s-experience-the-decision-to-turn-one-s-life-around-in-a/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [I still believe in the power of forgiveness. I believe in the power of redemption. 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Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? 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