🙊 Forgive and Forget: The Art of Letting Go 🙉
Definition
To forgive and forget: To both pardon and dismiss someone’s mistake, rudeness, or other transgression. It encompasses the concepts of relinquishing resentment and refraining from holding a grudge.
Synonyms
- Let bygones be bygones
- To move on
- Bury the hatchet
- Wipe the slate clean
- Make peace
Antonyms
- Hold a grudge
- Harbor resentment
- Bear malice
- Remember and not forgive
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” - Oscar Wilde
- “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” - John F. Kennedy
- “Forgiving is easy. Forgetting? That’s the hard part.” - Anon
Related Proverbs and Expressions
- “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” - Alexander Pope
- “A stitch in time saves nine.” - Handle conflicts early and don’t let them fester.
- “Turn the other cheek.” - Responding to wrongdoing with patience and peace.
- “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.” - William Blake
Literary References
- “Piers Ploughman” by William Langland: Emphasizes Christian charity and the virtue of forgiveness.
- “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare: Prospero’s eventual forgiveness of his betrayers marks a pivotal moment.
- “King Lear” by William Shakespeare: “Pray you now, forget and forgive; I am old and foolish.”
Suggested Books and Movies
-
Books:
- “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo: Jean Valjean’s journey through forgiveness.
- “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini: Exploring deep personal redemption.
-
Movies:
- Forrest Gump (1994): Displays the forgiving nature of the titular character.
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Forgiveness and moving forward are at its core.
Inspirational Poems
-
“Outwitted” by Edwin Markham:
He drew a circle that shut me out— Heretic, a rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in! -
“Forgiveness” by George William Albert Penn:
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Quizzes
### Which of these is an idiom related to forgiving?
- [ ] Launching forward with dirt
- [ ] Kissing a porcupine
- [x] Bury the hatchet
- [ ] Hugging a thundercloud
> **Explanation:** "Bury the hatchet" means to make peace or forgive past conflicts.
### True or False: 'Holding a grudge' is the opposite of 'Forgiving and Forgetting'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Absolutely true. Holding a grudge means maintaining resentment or anger towards someone for a long time, which is the opposite of forgiving and forgetting.
### Which phrase is genuine?
- [ ] Feed a cold, starve a ghost
- [x] To err is human; to forgive, divine
- [ ] Chase the snake, freeze the pie
- [ ] Dance with lions in dragon clothes
> **Explanation:** "To err is human; to forgive, divine" highlights the transcendence and virtue in forgiving others' mistakes.
### "Wipe the slate clean" most closely means:
- [x] Forgive and forget
- [ ] Replace your blackboard
- [ ] Start a notebook afresh
- [ ] Turn your calendar over
> **Explanation:** "Wipe the slate clean" involves removing past grievances, akin to forgiving and forgetting.
### Shakespeare used 'forget and forgive' in which play?
- [ ] Macbeth
- [ ] Romeo and Juliet
- [ ] Twelfth Night
- [x] King Lear
> **Explanation:** In King Lear, the phrase “forget and forgive” is used when Lear seeks pardon for his actions.
### Fill in the blank: "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so __________."
- [x] much
- [ ] well
- [ ] often
- [ ] regularly
> **Explanation:** The correct completion is "much," meaning it's notably vexing to be caught off guard by unexpected magnanimity.
As we ponder the ancient wisdom of “forgive and forget,” may we find liberation in letting go of past grievances. Embrace each new day with a light heart, for in forgiveness lies boundless strength.
Warm regards,
E. M. Serene
