--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not human to be wise,’ said Blood…" description: "\"“It is not human to be wise,’ said Blood. ‘It is much more human to err, though perhaps exceptional to err on the side of mercy.”\" — Rafael Sabatini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/rafael-sabatini-10387_compassion_it-is-not-human-to-be-wise-said-blood-it_3025697.jpg" --- # It is not human to be wise,’ said Blood. ‘It is much more… ![“It is not human to be wise,’ said Blood. ‘It is much more human to err, though perhaps exceptional to err on the side of mercy.” quote by Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/rafael-sabatini-10387_compassion_it-is-not-human-to-be-wise-said-blood-it_3025697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/rafael-sabatini-10387_compassion_it-is-not-human-to-be-wise-said-blood-it_3025697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/rafael-sabatini-10387_compassion_it-is-not-human-to-be-wise-said-blood-it_3025697.jpg) > ““It is not human to be wise,’ said Blood. ‘It is much more human to err, though perhaps exceptional to err on the side of mercy.”” [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature tolerates error more than wisdom; mercy makes mistakes acceptable. **In simple terms:** Humans err, wisdom is rare, mercy matters. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection, act with compassion. Themes human nature error mercy Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance mercy with accountability? - When is error justified? A Different Perspective Mercy may be exploited, leading to moral complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [I will be merciful, and I will believe in people. If I am to err, I will err on the side of mercy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-bernard/i-will-be-merciful-and-i-will-believe-in-people-if-i-am-to-err-i-will/) [David K. Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-bernard/) > [I think they must mix blood, otherwise the human race is bound to degenerate. Mixing blood is marvelous. It makes strong and intelligent men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-think-they-must-mix-blood-otherwise-the-human-race-is-bound-to/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [My father always told me that in this world we are going to make a truckload of mistakes, but the best mistake we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/my-father-always-told-me-that-in-this-world-we-are-going-to-make-a/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [I say to you that the price of liberty is and always has been blood - human blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/i-say-to-you-that-the-price-of-liberty-is-and-always-has-been-blood-2/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [If you are going to err, err on the side of mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/if-you-are-going-to-err-err-on-the-side-of-mercy/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [I'm talking about the essence of humanity. Hope is mixed into the blood of every human being, everywhere and in every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-m-talking-about-the-essence-of-humanity-hope-is-mixed-into-the/) [Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/) > [“One: Never, ever hurry. If you do something fast once, people will expect you to do it that fast every other time. Two: Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-paul-honsinger/one-never-ever-hurry-if-you-do-something-fast-once-people-will-expect/) [H. 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To err thus comes along with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chavez/to-love-is-human-to-err-thus-comes-along-with-it/) Ana Chavez > [“She was saying he wasn’t like the children in Christmasland. She was saying he was still himself. But Charlie Manx had said something different.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/she-was-saying-he-wasn-t-like-the-children-in-christmasland-she-was/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [And men said that the blood of the stars flowed in her veins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-men-said-that-the-blood-of-the-stars-flowed-in-her-veins/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is said that blood is thicker than water. It is what joins us, binds us, curses us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnabas/it-is-said-that-blood-is-thicker-than-water-it-is-what-joins-us-binds/) [Barnabas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnabas/) > [“Holding her tight against him, he said, "I am the blood in your veins, the marrow in your bones. You'll never go anywhere without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/holding-her-tight-against-him-he-said-i-am-the-blood-in-your-veins/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) ## More by Rafael Sabatini > [“If Mr. Blood had condescended to debate the matter with these ladies, he might have urged that having had his fill of wandering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/if-mr-blood-had-condescended-to-debate-the-matter-with-these-ladies/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [The love that is never to be realized will often remain a mans guiding ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/the-love-that-is-never-to-be-realized-will-often-remain-a-mans/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [Gold has at all times been considered the best of testimonies of good faith...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/gold-has-at-all-times-been-considered-the-best-of-testimonies-of-good/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“Peter Blood judged her- as we are all prone to do- upon insufficient knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/peter-blood-judged-her-as-we-are-all-prone-to-do-upon-insufficient/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“Mind being the seat of the soul, and literature being the expression of the mind, literature, it follows, is the soul of an age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/mind-being-the-seat-of-the-soul-and-literature-being-the-expression/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“Dragostea ce nu ajunge sa se materializeze niciodata ramane adesea idealul care-l ghideaza pe om.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/dragostea-ce-nu-ajunge-sa-se-materializeze-niciodata-ramane-adesea/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/only-those-become-weary-of-angling-who-bring-nothing-to-it-but-the/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [But I like my madness. There is a thrill in it unknown to such sanity as yours. ~ Book 1, Chapter 9,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/but-i-like-my-madness-there-is-a-thrill-in-it-unknown-to-such-sanity/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“The inevitable, tragic corollary of civilization is populace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/the-inevitable-tragic-corollary-of-civilization-is-populace/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [The idea of equality is a by-product of the sentiment of envy. Since it must always prove beyond human ower to raise the inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/the-idea-of-equality-is-a-by-product-of-the-sentiment-of-envy-since/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“Laughter broke from them. It spread into a roar of acclamation; for bluff is a weapon dear to every adventurer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/laughter-broke-from-them-it-spread-into-a-roar-of-acclamation-for/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [When all is said, a man's final judgment of his fellows must be based upon his knowledge of himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/when-all-is-said-a-man-s-final-judgment-of-his-fellows-must-be-based/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“Id is fery boedigal!" he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "Cabdain Blood is fond of boedry - you remember de abble-blossoms. So? Ha, ha!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/id-is-fery-boedigal-he-said-his-blue-eyes-twinkling-cabdain-blood-is/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [They opposed brute force to reason and philosophy, and battalions of foreign mercenaries to ideas. As if ideas were to be impaled on bayonets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/they-opposed-brute-force-to-reason-and-philosophy-and-battalions-of/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [...it is human nature, I suppose, to be futile and ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/it-is-human-nature-i-suppose-to-be-futile-and-ridiculous/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) [Explore all 66 Rafael Sabatini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. 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That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. 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