“A man who is truthful and does not mean ill even to his adversary will be slow to believe charges even against his foes. He will, however, try to understand the viewpoints of his opponents and will always keep an open mind and seek every opportunity of serving his opponents.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to Gandhi (truth/nonviolence writings); no dated primary source located.
About this quote
A person grounded in truth and goodwill is slow to believe accusations, even against an enemy. Rather than assume the worst, they work to grasp the other side's view and even look for ways to help. Fairness survives precisely where disagreement is sharpest.
When to use it
- A manager hears a damaging rumor about a rival department and checks the facts before believing a word of it.
- During a divorce, one parent refuses to assume the worst about the other in front of their kids.
- A debater restates her opponent's argument fairly, in its strongest form, before answering it.