--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To pardon the oppressor is to deal…" description: "\"To pardon the oppressor is to deal harshly with the oppressed.\" — Saadi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png" --- # To pardon the oppressor is to deal harshly with the… ![“To pardon the oppressor is to deal harshly with the oppressed.” quote by Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png) > “To pardon the oppressor is to deal harshly with the oppressed.” [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiving the oppressor harms the oppressed by reinforcing injustice. **In simple terms:** Pardon oppressor hurts oppressed. Key Takeaway Seek justice, not misplaced mercy. Themes justice oppression forgiveness Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - legal reform - human rights advocacy - community mediation Key Concepts ethical philosophy power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Is forgiveness always harmful? - When might forgiveness aid healing? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be a personal coping tool. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppressors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressors/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) ## Related quotes > [The people have now come to realize that the only way to deal with the oppressor is to deal on our own terms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-people-have-now-come-to-realize-that-the-only-way-to-deal-with/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [He will deal harshly by a stranger who has not been himself often a traveller or stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/he-will-deal-harshly-by-a-stranger-who-has-not-been-himself-often-a/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Forgiveness is commendable, but apply not ointment to the wound of an oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/forgiveness-is-commendable-but-apply-not-ointment-to-the-wound-of-an/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [He who, when he hath the power, doeth not good, when he loses the means will suffer distress. There is not a more unfortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/he-who-when-he-hath-the-power-doeth-not-good-when-he-loses-the-means/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Virtue pardons the wicked, as the sandal-tree perfumes the axe which strikes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/virtue-pardons-the-wicked-as-the-sandal-tree-perfumes-the-axe-which/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber. Religion reminds every man that he is his brother's keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-oppressed-must-never-allow-the-conscience-of-the-oppressor-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is only the oppressed who, by freeing themselves, can free their oppressors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/it-is-only-the-oppressed-who-by-freeing-themselves-can-free-their/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [Raise your eyes and count the small gang of your oppressors who are only strong through the blood they suck from you and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/raise-your-eyes-and-count-the-small-gang-of-your-oppressors-who-are/) [Georg Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [“As I'd seen over and again, people who see themselves as victims sometimes don't notice when they become oppressors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souad-mekhennet/as-i-d-seen-over-and-again-people-who-see-themselves-as-victims/) [Souad Mekhennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/souad-mekhennet/) > [God is an oppressor, He is incapable of human sympathy; behind a smiling face He hides an evil heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/god-is-an-oppressor-he-is-incapable-of-human-sympathy-behind-a/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [Tout re volutionnaire finit en oppresseur ou en he re tique. Every revolutionary ends as an oppressor or a heretic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/tout-re-volutionnaire-finit-en-oppresseur-ou-en-he-re-tique-every/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/all-who-live-in-tyranny-and-hopelessness-can-know-the-united-states/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The behavior and reactions of the oppressed, which lead the oppressor to practice cultural invasion, should evoke from the revolutionary a different theory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-behavior-and-reactions-of-the-oppressed-which-lead-the-oppressor/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) ## More by Saadi > [Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/human-beings-are-members-of-a-whole-in-creation-of-one-essence-and/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [If thou art of elephant-strength or of lion-claw, still peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-of-elephant-strength-or-of-lion-claw-still-peace-is-in-my/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Astride a horse I am not, nor camel-like carry a load, Subjects I have none, nor follow any sultan's code; I worry not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/astride-a-horse-i-am-not-nor-camel-like-carry-a-load-subjects-i-have/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Whatever is produced in haste goes hastily to waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/whatever-is-produced-in-haste-goes-hastily-to-waste/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [The rose and thorn, the treasure and dragon, joy and sorrow, all mingle into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/the-rose-and-thorn-the-treasure-and-dragon-joy-and-sorrow-all-mingle/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [When the ruler is obedient to God, God is his protector and friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/when-the-ruler-is-obedient-to-god-god-is-his-protector-and-friend/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Riches are for the comfort of life, and not life for the accumulation of riches. I asked a holy wise man, "Who is fortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/riches-are-for-the-comfort-of-life-and-not-life-for-the-accumulation/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Where the hand of tyranny is long we do not see the lips of men open with laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/where-the-hand-of-tyranny-is-long-we-do-not-see-the-lips-of-men-open/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [All human beings are limbs of the same body. God created them from the same essence. If one part of the body suffers pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/all-human-beings-are-limbs-of-the-same-body-god-created-them-from-the/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Roam abroad in the world, and take thy fill of its enjoyments before the day shall come when thou must quit it for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/roam-abroad-in-the-world-and-take-thy-fill-of-its-enjoyments-before/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/a-man-is-insensible-to-the-relish-of-prosperity-til-he-has-tasted/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [If thou art wise, incline to truth; for truth, not the semblance, remains in its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-wise-incline-to-truth-for-truth-not-the-semblance-remains/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Patience accomplishes its object, while hurry speeds to its ruin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/patience-accomplishes-its-object-while-hurry-speeds-to-its-ruin/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [He who, when he hath the power, doeth not good, when he loses the means will suffer distress. There is not a more unfortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/he-who-when-he-hath-the-power-doeth-not-good-when-he-loses-the-means/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) [Explore all 159 Saadi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. 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Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't really resent being on the red carpet as much as I do having to deal with the paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-really-resent-being-on-the-red-carpet-as-much-as-i-do-having/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. 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I present, reiterate, and glorify the obvious - because the obvious is what people need to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-deal-with-the-obvious-i-present-reiterate-and-glorify-the-obvious/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) Browse all 7,121 Deals quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To pardon the oppressor is to deal harshly with the oppressed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saadi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harshly-with-the-oppressed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harshly-with-the-oppressed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/saadi-2340_deals_to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harsh_1623300.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To pardon the oppressor is to deal harshly with the oppressed.” — Saadi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Saadi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To pardon the oppressor is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harshly-with-the-oppressed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/to-pardon-the-oppressor-is-to-deal-harshly-with-the-oppressed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```