Quotes about Clemency
Let us not listen to those who think we ought to be angry with our enemies, and who believe this to be great and manly. Nothing is so praiseworthy, nothing so clearly shows a great and noble soul, as clemency and readiness to forgive.
- Cicero
On the whole, my impression is that mercy bears richer fruits than any other attribute.
- Abraham Lincoln
Tzu-chang asked Master K'ung about Goodness. Master K'ung said, He who could put the Five into practice everywhere under Heaven would be Good. Tzu-chang begged to hear what these were. The Master said, Courtesy, breadth, good faith, diligence, and clemency.
- Confucius
It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the Offended power, to confess our national sins, and pray for clemency and forgiveness.
- Abraham Lincoln
The old law vindicated itself by the vengeance of the sword, and plucked out eye for eye, and requited injury with punishment; but the new law pointed to clemency, and changed the former savagery of swords and lances into tranquility, and refashioned the former infliction of war upon rivals and foes of the law into the peaceful acts of ploughing and cultivating the earth. And so . . . the observance of the new law and of spiritual circumcision has shone forth in acts of peaceful obedience.
- Tertullian
We ourselves respect the past in certain instances and in all cases grant it clemency, provided it consents to being dead. If it insists on being alive, we attack and try to kill it.
- Victor Hugo
Have mercy on me, O Lady: for thou art called the Mother of Mercy. And according to thy mercy: cleanse me from all my iniquities. Pour forth thy grace upon me: and withdraw not from me thine accustomed clemency. For I will confess my sins to thee: and I will accuse myself of all my crimes before thee. Reconcile me to the Fruit of thy womb: and make peace for me with Him who has created me.
- St Bonaventure
To remember no more is God's way of expressing absolute forgiveness.
- Jerry Bridges
It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
- Abraham Lincoln
Clemency is the noblest trait Which can reveal a true monarch to the world.
- Pierre Corneille