WIST Quotations

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-04 (1875 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:18:16 +0000

The man who haz sworn not to forgiv haz uttered the wust oath he kan take.

[The man who has sworn not to forgive has uttered the worst oath he can take.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-04 (1875 ed.)
(Source)

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 4. Gospel of John 8:10ff (John 8:10–11) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:03:48 +0000

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord.
And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

[ἀνακύψας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Γύναι, ποῦ εἰσιν; οὐδείς σε κατέκρινεν;
ἡ δὲ εἶπεν, Οὐδείς, κύριε.
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Οὐδὲ ἐγώ σε κατακρίνω· πορεύου, [καὶ] ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 4. Gospel of John 8:10ff (John 8:10–11) [KJV (1611)]
(Source)

No Synoptic parallels.

The conclusion of the Pericope Adulterae. John 8:1-11 (or even back to John 7:53) is not in many early NT manuscripts and translations; others sometimes put it after John 21:24, John 7:35, or even Luke 21:38, with varying text (References 1, 2, 3, 4). Most scholars agree this parable was not in the original versions of John's Gospel, but an oral tradition added afterward. (Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

He looked up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
'No one, sir' she replied.
'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus 'go away, and don't sin any more.'
[JB (1966)]

Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
'No one, sir,' she replied.
'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment sin no more.'
[NJB (1985)]

He straightened up and said to her, “Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?”
“No one, sir,” she answered.
“Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”
[GNT (1992 ed.)]

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?”
She said, “No one, sir.”
Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.”
[CEB (2011)]

Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, sir.”
And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Shakespeare, William -- Tempest, Epilogue, l. 19ff (1611)

Dave — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:44:46 +0000

PROSPERO: As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Tempest, Epilogue, l. 19ff (1611)
(Source)

Final lines of the play, to the Audience.

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 6:14ff (Matt 6:14–15) (Jesus) [CEB (2011)]

Dave — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:51:26 +0000

If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

[Ἐὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 6:14ff (Matt 6:14–15) (Jesus) [CEB (2011)]
(Source)

No Synoptic parallels. This passage in Matthew immediately follows the Lord's Prayer which includes a petition for the forgiveness of sins.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
[KJV (1611)]

Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.
[JB (1966); NJB (1985)]

If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.
[GNT (1976)]

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

The NRSV notes some ancient manuscripts adds to the second "forgive others" the specific "their trespasses."

Shakespeare, William -- King Lear, Act 4, sc. 6, l. 129ff (4.6.129-132) (1606)

Dave — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 23:51:35 +0000

LEAR: I pardon that man’s life. What was thy cause? —
Adultery? Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery? No.
The wren goes to ‘t, and the small gilded fly does
lecher in my sight. Let copulation thrive ….

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
King Lear, Act 4, sc. 6, l. 129ff (4.6.129-132) (1606)
(Source)

Dinarchus -- “Against Aristogiton”

Dave — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 20:21:27 +0000

You have to believe, by god, that he will be no better in the future after getting this judgment from you and will never stop taking bribes against you if you acquit him.

[οὐ γὰρ δὴ μὰ τὸν Ἡρακλέα βελτίω γενήσεσθαι αὐτὸν προσδοκᾶτε συγγνώμης νυνὶ τυγχάνοντα παρ᾿ ὑμῶν, οὐδὲ τὸ λοιπὸν ἀφέξεσθαι τοῦ λαμβάνειν χρήματα καθ᾿ ὑμῶν, ἐὰν νῦν ἀφῆτε αὐτόν.]

Dinarchus (c. 361-291 BC) Greek orator and speech writer [Dinarch, Deinarchus, Δείναρχος]
“Against Aristogiton”
(Source)

Alt. trans.:

"Hope not to reform him; for if you pardon him now what assurance have you that he will not against betray your interests in the future?" [tr. Garland (1902)]
"For you must assume, by Heracles, that there will be no improvement in him if he is pardoned by you now, and that in future he will not abstain from taking bribes against you if you now acquit him." [tr. Burtt (1962)]

Dinarchus -- “Against Aristogiton”

Dave — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 20:57:41 +0000

Will you really acquit this damned man who never did you anything good from his first public act but instead has done every evil he could?

[τὸν δὲ κατάρατον τοῦτον, ὃς ἀγαθὸν μὲν ὑμᾶς οὐδεπώποτε πεποίηκεν ἐξ οὗ πρὸς τὴν πόλιν προσελήλυθε, κακὸν δ᾿ ὅ τι δυνατός ἐστιν, ἀφήσετε]

Dinarchus (c. 361-291 BC) Greek orator and speech writer [Dinarch, Deinarchus, Δείναρχος]
“Against Aristogiton”
(Source)

Alt. trans.: "But this accursed wretch has never done you any good since he began his public career, but all the harm he could. Will you then pardon him?" [tr. Garland (1902)]

Alt. trans: "Will you acquit this accursed man who has not done you a service ever since he has been in politics but has been the greatest possible menace?" [tr. Burtt (1962)]

Pliny the Younger -- Epistles [Epistulae], Book 8, Letter 22 “To Geminus” [tr. J.B.Firth (1900)]

Dave — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 01:51:45 +0000

For my own part, I consider the best and most finished type of man to be the person who is always ready to make allowances for others, on the ground that never a day passes without his being in fault himself, yet who keeps as clear of faults as if he never pardoned them in others.

[Atque ego optimum et emendatissimum existimo, qui ceteris ita ignoscit, tamquam ipse cotidie peccet, ita peccatis abstinet tamquam nemini ignoscat.]

Pliny the Younger (c. 61-c. 113) Roman politician, writer [Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus]
Epistles [Epistulae], Book 8, Letter 22 “To Geminus” [tr. J.B.Firth (1900)]
(Source)

Alt. trans.: "The highest of characters, in my estimation, is his, who is as ready to pardon the moral errors of mankind, as if he were every day guilty of some himself; and at the same time as cautious of committing a fault as if he never forgave one."

Lincoln, Abraham -- Comment (1864, Summer)

Dave — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:09:48 +0000

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Comment (1864, Summer)
(Source)

Recalled by his long-time friend, Joseph Gillespie, regarding pardons for some army deserters, in O. Oldroyd, The Lincoln Memorial: Album-Immortelles (1882).

Often attributed to a speech in Washington (1865), but I can find nothing in his collected works or in Presidential paper collections.