Proverbs and sayings often provide us with wise words from all corners of the world. Best savoured a little at a time, these sayings are passed down from generation to generation. Each Thursday, I post a saying, or proverb and a quote that I find thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
There can be no peace without understanding.
(Senegalese Proverb)
This week I have been pondering Forgiveness. Gandhi is quoted as saying:
“The Weak can never forgive.
Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.”
Do you agree with this statement?
In today’s world and political climate, some people see those who seek retribution as showing strength? But is it based on strength, fear or even hatred? When I was contemplating this, if was as if Gandhi answered my question himself, as the next thing I read was this:
An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.
Mahatma Gandhi
What do you make of the above quotes and proverbs?
They provided some clarity for me, in my headspace.
What do they say to you?
Please join in the discussion by leaving a comment below.
Proverbial Thursday – Always Something to Ponder About
Something to Ponder About 
Oh my, what excellent choices to share on Thanksgiving Day (US). The truth in each quote is undeniable.
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Thank you Peggy. I wasn’t aware it was Thanksgiving Day. But it does seem appropriate. But when I think about it a bit more, every day should be a Thanksgiving Day!!!
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Just like a bickering couple arguing over frivolous matters at home, when either or both do not understand the other, there will be no end to it – no peace. (Suan: btw, the wife is always right, happy wife happy life). Mel: 🙂
Human history is filled with non-forgiving. That’s why we have these conflicts!
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Quite right, Mel and Suan. There are many couples like this. Some of them feel that they are still communicating, but too much talk without understanding is no talk at all!
We could all learn a lesson from the word forgiveness. How different could the world be if everyone practiced more forgiveness each day?!
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Wonderful truths here. I so agree. It takes a stronger person to let go of hurts and offer true forgiveness. An eye for an eye is a dumb way of dealing with things. Who came up with that? I so agree with the first one. We fight what we don’t understand and fear. Great proverbs this week as usual. Thanks for that.
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Fear can be a strong motivator for the conflict which we hope will lead to forgiveness. We seek to maintain the status quo as change destabilizes us, forcing us to create a new routine/community/way of doing things or problem to solve, actions to forgive. This “new” way is completely unfamiliar and sometimes we want things to stay the same because we don’t yet understand this new concept adn refuse to forgive. Changes are, however, inevitable yet we fight it tooth and nail and feel that forgiveness is a sign of weakness.
On the flip side, many of us yearn for change at other times in our life. I have gone a bit off topic here from forgiveness, yet I see a connection between understanding forgiveness and change for the better.
Do we still fear change where we yearn for it? Is there more understanding of it?
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I think it’s much easier to feel angry and to want retribution than it is to see the point of view of someone who has treated you very badly, so it does take real strength to forgive them.
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Anger can be a reactive knee jerk response, as you say Andrea. Good point. It takes strength to take a moment to breathe, think and react in a calm controlled way. With someone who has treated you badly, I think sometimes it feels like you want to punish them by not forgiving them. But that negative energy eats one up if it is not released.
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I couldn’t agree more with these proverbs, Amanda. We should all learn to forgive as we are all people and we all make mistakes. Forgiveness is the best form of love. 😉
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Forgiveness is the best form of love. Lovely words, Agnes! It is something I will need to put into practice!
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Wise quotes!
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Thanks Snow!
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