--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better for him that each sin of his life…" description: "\"“Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not 'Forgive us our ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/oscar-wilde-16_life_better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life_2613924.jpg" --- # Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its… ![“Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not 'Forgive us our sins,' but 'Smite us for our iniquities' should be the prayer of a man to a most just God.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/oscar-wilde-16_life_better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life_2613924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/oscar-wilde-16_life_better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life_2613924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/oscar-wilde-16_life_better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life_2613924.jpg) > ““Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not 'Forgive us our sins,' but 'Smite us for our iniquities' should be the prayer of a man to a most just God.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Punishment is seen as a just, purifying force, urging a prayer for divine retribution rather than forgiveness. **In simple terms:** He believes punishment cleanses, not forgiveness. Key Takeaway Seek justice, not mercy, when wronged. Themes justice morality punishment Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - legal debates - ethical discussions - personal grievances - theological study Key Concepts theodicy retributive justice spirituality Questions to Reflect On - When is forgiveness more powerful than punishment? - How does punishment affect personal growth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on retribution can ignore restorative possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [There was purification in punishment. Not 'Forgive us our sins,' but 'Smite us for our iniquities' should be the prayer of a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-was-purification-in-punishment-not-forgive-us-our-sins-but/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure swift penalty along with it. there was purification in punishment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life-had-brought-its-sure-swift/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Not "Forgive us for our sins" but "Smite us for our iniquities" should be the prayer of man to a most just God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/not-forgive-us-for-our-sins-but-smite-us-for-our-iniquities-should-be/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“affliction is better than sin, and if God sends the one to cleanse us from the other, let us thank him, and be also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/affliction-is-better-than-sin-and-if-god-sends-the-one-to-cleanse-us/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [The moral is that it is probably better not to sin at all, but if some kind of sin you must be pursuing, Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-moral-is-that-it-is-probably-better-not-to-sin-at-all-but-if-some/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [If you tell a lie to make a person better, then that is not a sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/if-you-tell-a-lie-to-make-a-person-better-then-that-is-not-a-sin/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [“none of sin makes you better, sin always makes you get worse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tolop-marbun/none-of-sin-makes-you-better-sin-always-makes-you-get-worse/) Tolop Marbun > [God may not accept a person to forgive him his sins, without an atonement, else he must give free license to sin both in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/god-may-not-accept-a-person-to-forgive-him-his-sins-without-an/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [Christ died to forgive you of your sins so that you could learn from them, not keep making the same mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christ-died-to-forgive-you-of-your-sins-so-that-you-could-learn-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 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It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. 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That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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