When you don't want to forgive someone, ask yourself this: would you want everyone to be unforgiving toward you? The person who won't pardon others — how many times has he begged for forgiveness himself? How often has he groveled at the feet of people he now pushes away? What brings more honor than turning an enemy into a friend? Rome's most loyal allies are often the nations that once fought us most fiercely. Where would our empire be today if we hadn't been wise enough to unite the conquered with the conquerors?
Whenever we are loth to pardon any one, let us think whether it would be to our advantage that all men should be inexorable. He who refuses to pardon, how often has he begged it for himself? how often has he grovelled at the feet of those whom he spurns from his own? How can we gain more glory than by turning anger into friendship? what more faithful allies has the Roman people than those who have been its most unyielding enemies? where would the empire be to-day, had not a wise foresight united the conquered and the conquerors?