Forgiveness Quote by Lloyd Alexander
““I cannot forgive myself for what I did. It has long been one of my strictest principles not to interfere with the life of any individual, let alone attempt to shorten it. If an exception were to be made, Dr. Helvitius would surely qualify. It might be argued that, having neither scruples nor conscience, he had no claim upon the conscience of someone else—least of all, his intended victims. But that is a question to be resolved by a judgment higher than mine. In the event, my responsibility toward Vesper outweighed every other consideration. I can state in all honesty: I meant only to wound him. I cannot forgive myself—for missing the villain completely.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Chronicles of Prydain, 1964
The narrator expresses deep remorse for failing to recognize a villain, highlighting a moral principle against interfering with others' lives and the weight of personal responsibility.
In simple terms: Regret over missing a villain and a moral stance on non‑interference.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge mistakes and uphold personal ethics.
Themes
guilt
responsibility
ethics
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- leadership decisions
- personal accountability
Key Concepts
non‑interference
moral principle
self‑forgiveness
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if non‑interference caused harm?
- Can strict principles be flexible?
A Different Perspective
The principle may clash with necessary intervention.
![“Like all truly pure souls she [Chantal] quickly resigned herself to past faults, thought only of how to repair whatever harm they had done. "Of all my daughters, you are certainly the least bothered by scruples of conscience," Abbé Chevance used to say… Even sin, once the will is detached and no…” quote by Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c68/georges-bernanos-7838_bothered_like-all-truly-pure-souls-she-chantal-qu_2033637.jpg)
