---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We pardon infidelities, but we do not…"
description: "\"We pardon infidelities, but we do not forget them.\" — Madame de La Fayette"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/madame-de-la-fayette-37225_betrayal_we-pardon-infidelities-but-we-do-not-for_1128765.jpg"
---

#  We pardon infidelities, but we do not forget them.

![“We pardon infidelities, but we do not forget them.” quote by Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/madame-de-la-fayette-37225_betrayal_we-pardon-infidelities-but-we-do-not-for_1128765.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/madame-de-la-fayette-37225_betrayal_we-pardon-infidelities-but-we-do-not-for_1128765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/madame-de-la-fayette-37225_betrayal_we-pardon-infidelities-but-we-do-not-for_1128765.jpg)

> “We pardon infidelities, but we do not forget them.”

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

## 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 forgive betrayals, but memories of them linger, shaping future trust and relationships.

**In simple terms:** Forgiveness doesn't erase memory.

Key Takeaway

Remember past hurts to protect future trust.

Themes

trust memory forgiveness relationships

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- political alliances
- team dynamics

Key Concepts

psychology social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance forgiveness with vigilance?
- What role does memory play in rebuilding trust?

A Different Perspective

Forgiveness may be limited by repeated offenses.

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[Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Inconstancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconstancy/) [Infidelities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infidelities-864071/) [Infidelities Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infidelities-forget-3091274/) [Infidelity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infidelity/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Pardon Infidelities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon-infidelities-3091273/)

## Related quotes

> [There is nothing more humiliating than loving someone so much that you forgive the infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-hall/there-is-nothing-more-humiliating-than-loving-someone-so-much-that/)

[Jerry Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-hall/)

> [There are some sins which are more justly to be denominated surprises than infidelities. To such the world should be lenient, as, doubtless, Heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/there-are-some-sins-which-are-more-justly-to-be-denominated-surprises/)

[Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/)

> [Women in love sooner forgive great indiscretions than small infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/women-in-love-sooner-forgive-great-indiscretions-than-small/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The greatest of all infidelities is the fear that the truth will be bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-greatest-of-all-infidelities-is-the-fear-that-the-truth-will-be/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [I haven't been faithful to my wife. Our marriage has been tainted with my infidelities. I was irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boreanaz/i-haven-t-been-faithful-to-my-wife-our-marriage-has-been-tainted-with/)

[David Boreanaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boreanaz/)

> [I know a love may be revived which absence, inconstancy, or even infidelity has extinguished, but there is no returning from a dTgovt given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-a-love-may-be-revived-which-absence-inconstancy-or-even/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Inconstancy no sin will prove If we consider that we love But the same beauty in another face, Like the same body in another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-herbert-1st-baron-herbert-of-cherbury/inconstancy-no-sin-will-prove-if-we-consider-that-we-love-but-the/)

[Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-herbert-1st-baron-herbert-of-cherbury/)

> [“Stray cats are like two-timing men. He got tired of you and took off. He doesn't find anyone new? He'll come slinking back. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/stray-cats-are-like-two-timing-men-he-got-tired-of-you-and-took-off/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [“Instead of feeling shameful like most normal people would, when the psychopath cheats they actually go out of their way to ensure you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-mackenzie/instead-of-feeling-shameful-like-most-normal-people-would-when-the/)

[Jackson MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-mackenzie/)

> [There are women whose infidelities are the only link they still have with their husbands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-guitry/there-are-women-whose-infidelities-are-the-only-link-they-still-have/)

[Sacha Guitry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-guitry/)

> [“For infidelities to have their real impact some lovelessness has to develop first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/for-infidelities-to-have-their-real-impact-some-lovelessness-has-to/)

[Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/)

> [Women who love, pardon more readily great indiscretions than little infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/women-who-love-pardon-more-readily-great-indiscretions-than-little/)

[Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“She'd used the treasure hunt to take me on a tour of all my infidelities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/she-d-used-the-treasure-hunt-to-take-me-on-a-tour-of-all-my/)

[Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/)

> [He left the self-conscious literary demimonde of New York for the quiet infidelities of New England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heilpern/he-left-the-self-conscious-literary-demimonde-of-new-york-for-the/)

[John Heilpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heilpern/)

> [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More by Madame de La Fayette

> [If I had a lover who wanted to hear from me every day, I would break with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/if-i-had-a-lover-who-wanted-to-hear-from-me-every-day-i-would-break/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

> [If one thinks that one is happy, that is enough to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/if-one-thinks-that-one-is-happy-that-is-enough-to-be-happy/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

> [I have left all my business and all my husbands; I have taken with me only fair weather and my children, which is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/i-have-left-all-my-business-and-all-my-husbands-i-have-taken-with-me/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

> [You love writing; I hate it; and if I had a lover who expected a note from me every morning, I should certainly break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/you-love-writing-i-hate-it-and-if-i-had-a-lover-who-expected-a-note/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

> [Most mothers think that to keep young people away from love-making it is enough never to speak of it in their presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/most-mothers-think-that-to-keep-young-people-away-from-love-making-it/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

> [One is very weak when one is in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/one-is-very-weak-when-one-is-in-love/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

> [One may forgive infidelity, but one does not forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-la-fayette/one-may-forgive-infidelity-but-one-does-not-forget-it/)

[Madame de La Fayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

[Explore all 8 Madame de La Fayette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-la-fayette/)

## More Betrayal quotes

> [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/)

[Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/)

> [There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/there-is-no-deceit-in-death-it-delivers-precisely-what-it-has/)

[KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/)

> [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/)

[Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/)

> [“He returned her gaze, yearning for sentimental solace; love which emanated from a familiar source, mattered little how bedevilling. They shared an intimate moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-septimius/he-returned-her-gaze-yearning-for-sentimental-solace-love-which/)

[A. H. Septimius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-septimius/)

> [I was always here for you,you knew you could count on me and trust me blindly, and you knew that I would never tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayssus/i-was-always-here-for-you-you-knew-you-could-count-on-me-and-trust-me/)

[Michael Hayssus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayssus/)

> [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [“Betrayal and love are not mutually exclusive." (Mordred)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-mercer/betrayal-and-love-are-not-mutually-exclusive-mordred/)

[Aldous Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-mercer/)

> [Love comes exactly... To those who still hope, even though they've been disappointed. To those who still believe, even though they've been betrayed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mizhan/love-comes-exactly-to-those-who-still-hope-even-though-they-ve-been/)

[Mizhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mizhan/)

> [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/)

[Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/)

> [Betrayal is a serious thing in this world,you know what else is serious? Being lied to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina/betrayal-is-a-serious-thing-in-this-world-you-know-what-else-is/)

[Sabrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina/)

> [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/)

[J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/)

[Browse all 2,050 Betrayal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/)

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