- English translation
Greet them kindly in the morning rather than hurling abuse; the one who forgives is noble.
- Literal wording
Give the morning greeting and do not revile; the one who forgives is noble.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying advises that when you meet someone who angered you the day before, you should greet them warmly instead of insulting or reviling them, which is the sense of the verb set against the morning greeting. A fresh day is treated as a chance to set aside yesterday's friction through ordinary courtesy.
Its second half justifies that restraint by tying forgiveness to nobility of character. Pardoning an offense is presented not as giving in, but as proof of generosity of spirit. Choosing to forgive raises the person who forgives rather than diminishing them.
- When it is used
Fits moments after a quarrel, when someone is deciding how to face the other person the next day. It urges them to open with a friendly greeting and let the grievance go, and it praises forgiveness as a noble trait rather than a weakness.
- Register
- colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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