“In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.”

—  Francis Bacon , book Essays

Of Revenge
Essays (1625)
Variant: Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon.

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Francis Bacon 295
English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and auth… 1561–1626

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