--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand…" description: "\"We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, forthat is a way of recei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_assuming_we-do-not-quite-forgive-a-giver-the-hand_447569.png" --- # We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is… ![“We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, forthat is a way of receiving it from ourselves; but not from any one who assumes to bestow. We sometimes hate the meat which we eat, because there seems something of…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_assuming_we-do-not-quite-forgive-a-giver-the-hand_447569.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_assuming_we-do-not-quite-forgive-a-giver-the-hand_447569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_assuming_we-do-not-quite-forgive-a-giver-the-hand_447569.png) > “We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, forthat is a way of receiving it from ourselves; but not from any one who assumes to bestow. We sometimes hate the meat which we eat, because there seems something of degrading dependence in living it.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often distrust those who give, fearing dependence and loss of autonomy, even when the gift is love. **In simple terms:** We fear dependence on those who give us things. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance gratitude with self-reliance. Themes independence trust dependence gratitude Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal relationships - family dynamics - workplace mentorship - charitable giving Key Concepts philosophy human nature psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance gratitude with autonomy? - When does dependence become harmful? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self-reliance can hinder healthy interdependence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ## Related quotes > [We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-quite-forgive-a-giver-the-hand-that-feeds-us-is-in-some-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is not the office of a man to receive gifts ... We wish to be self-sustained. We do not quite forgive a giver.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/it-is-not-the-office-of-a-man-to-receive-gifts-we-wish-to-be-self/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sisters never quite forgive each other for what happened when they were five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/sisters-never-quite-forgive-each-other-for-what-happened-when-they/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [“Forgive me, giver, if I destroy the gift: it is so nearly what would please me I cannot but perfect it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-riding/forgive-me-giver-if-i-destroy-the-gift-it-is-so-nearly-what-would/) [Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-riding/) > [But a compassion for that which is not and cannot be useful and lovely, is degrading and futile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/but-a-compassion-for-that-which-is-not-and-cannot-be-useful-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The whole constitution of property on its present tenures, is injurious, and its influence on persons deteriorating and degrading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-whole-constitution-of-property-on-its-present-tenures-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The gift, to be true, must be the flowing of the giver unto me, correspondent to my flowing unto him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-gift-to-be-true-must-be-the-flowing-of-the-giver-unto-me/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Poets should be law-givers; that is, the boldest lyric inspiration should not chide and insult, but should announce and lead the civil code, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/poets-should-be-law-givers-that-is-the-boldest-lyric-inspiration/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The Sun is the sole inconsumable fireAnd God is the sole inexhaustible Giver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-sun-is-the-sole-inconsumable-fireand-god-is-the-sole/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“And I think that if you are lucky enough to give and receive love, then you can be happy in the face of suffering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-warner/and-i-think-that-if-you-are-lucky-enough-to-give-and-receive-love/) Priscilla Warner > [We receive love — from our children as well as others — not in proportion to our demands or sacrifices or needs, but roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/we-receive-love-from-our-children-as-well-as-others-not-in-proportion/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Love your neighbor, even the ones who do not show you the same courtesy. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, forthat is a way of receiving it from ourselves; but not from any one who assumes to bestow. 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