From the book
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volumes I–II
Joseph Joubert · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Forgiveness
pardonner; pardonneur
Pardonner addresses a wrong while releasing hatred; it need not deny that judgment or punishment occurs.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordPardonner addresses a wrong while releasing hatred; it need not deny that judgment or punishment occurs.
- In JoubertThe petition that heaven forgive the wicked after punishing them retains both acts and their order.
- In this editionThe English translation renders pardonneur as Forgiver and brackets [God] where the French is damaged.
- A place to beginForgiveness is wished after punishment.
- English renderings
- forgive; Forgiver
Meaning
Pardonner addresses a wrong while releasing hatred; it need not deny that judgment or punishment occurs.
Use in the book
The petition that heaven forgive the wicked after punishing them retains both acts and their order. The admired invocation O Forgiver names a divine quality in a saying attributed broadly to Muslims. A further quoted moral maxim links divine forgiveness with human forgiving and opposes mortal life to immortal hatred. Joubert presents that saying as a truth, distinguishing it from examples of historical fact. These witnesses place forgiveness within religious and ethical language without proving a common formula or practice across traditions. They also keep it distinct from indulgence that simply overlooks a fault.
Places to read
- I, p. 96, entry 8, ¶1Forgiveness is wished after punishment.
- II, p. 763, entry 1, ¶1An admired invocation names God as Forgiver.
- II, p. 809, entry 7, ¶2Forgiving is exemplified as a moral truth, contrasted with historical facts.
Translation in this edition
The English translation renders pardonneur as Forgiver and brackets [God] where the French is damaged. It supplies no Arabic original or identified prayer. The mortal/immortal repetition is preserved in the moral saying.
Source note
Beaunier 1938, I, pp. 96; II, pp. 763, 809.
From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Forgiveness
forgive; pardon; forbear; restoration after offence
Forgiveness is the remission of an offence or injury without a vindictive response.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordForgiveness is the remission of an offence or injury without a vindictive response.
- In TraherneThe friend must expect human infirmities, rebuke meekly where needed, and continue to confer benefits.
- In this editionThe heading gathers the verbs “forgive” and “pardon”; the abstract noun is not needed for the argument.
- A place to beginForgiveness requires meek correction and unwearied beneficence rather than lazy neglect.
Meaning
Forgiveness is the remission of an offence or injury without a vindictive response. Traherne distinguishes it from simple inattention and from approval of the wrong itself.
Use in the book
The friend must expect human infirmities, rebuke meekly where needed, and continue to confer benefits. Forgiveness is thus an active generosity rather than a refusal to notice harm. The theological account makes a related distinction: God cannot be reconciled to sin as sin, but can be reconciled to a person capable of restoration. The sinner’s possible beauty matters. Finally, enjoyment gives another ground for pardoning injury, since an abundant inward possession weakens the power of enemies to define the sufferer’s condition.
Places to read
In this edition
The heading gathers the verbs “forgive” and “pardon”; the abstract noun is not needed for the argument. Do not erase the stated place of correction when summarising the counsel.