--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was purification in punishment. Not…" description: "\"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.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/oscar-wilde-16_forgiveness_there-was-purification-in-punishment-not_1807538.jpg" --- # There was purification in punishment. Not 'Forgive us our… ![“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/b32/oscar-wilde-16_forgiveness_there-was-purification-in-punishment-not_1807538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/oscar-wilde-16_forgiveness_there-was-purification-in-punishment-not_1807538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/oscar-wilde-16_forgiveness_there-was-purification-in-punishment-not_1807538.jpg) > “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. A just deity should be petitioned for punishment rather than forgiveness of sins. **In simple terms:** Ask a fair God for justice, not forgiveness. Key Takeaway Seek justice from a righteous power. Themes theology justice prayer Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal confession - religious rituals - ethical reflection Key Concepts divine fairness moral accountability Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about human concepts of justice? - How does this view affect personal guilt? A Different Perspective May conflict with compassionate doctrines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Iniquities Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iniquities-prayer-2085716/) [Just God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-god/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Punishment Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment-forgive-2051074/) [Purification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purification/) [Purification Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purification-punishment-2051075/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins Smite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins-smite-2051076/) ## Related quotes > [“Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/better-for-him-that-each-sin-of-his-life-had-brought-its-sure-swift-2/) [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/) > [“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/) > [The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-body-sins-once-and-has-done-with-its-sin-for-action-is-a-mode-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Just because God gave you a mouth doesn't mean you must constantly use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/just-because-god-gave-you-a-mouth-doesn-t-mean-you-must-constantly/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Your cravings as a human animal do not become a prayer just because it is God whom you ask to attend to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/your-cravings-as-a-human-animal-do-not-become-a-prayer-just-because/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [“God makes it easy to begin: just do it! God also makes it easy to progress in prayer, for he rewards our efforts with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/god-makes-it-easy-to-begin-just-do-it-god-also-makes-it-easy-to/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“I would never have chosen that life for myself, I know. But God knew what he was doing. And everything I went through turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-sturm/i-would-never-have-chosen-that-life-for-myself-i-know-but-god-knew/) [Lacey Sturm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-sturm/) > [“Would a just God sentence a morally good individual to hell for never having heard of him? And for that matter, would a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/would-a-just-god-sentence-a-morally-good-individual-to-hell-for-never/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Just because God is God, just because Christ is Christ, they cannot do other than care for us and bless us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/just-because-god-is-god-just-because-christ-is-christ-they-cannot-do/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [As for me, then, I love life and cultivate it just as God has been pleased to grant it to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/as-for-me-then-i-love-life-and-cultivate-it-just-as-god-has-been/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/you-were-created-to-add-to-life-on-earth-not-just-take-from-it-god/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Let us give out of our own bounty, just as God gives to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-us-give-out-of-our-own-bounty-just-as-god-gives-to-us/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [From a vocal standpoint, Glenn Hughes is just a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/from-a-vocal-standpoint-glenn-hughes-is-just-a-god/) [John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/) > [Prayers to the people that are going through tough times, it will get better soon, just give it to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayers-to-the-people-that-are-going-through-tough-times-it-will-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. 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. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Forgiveness quotes > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) [Serge Kahili King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-kahili-king/) > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/) [Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/) [Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. 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