“Augustus Waters was a self-aggrandizing bastard. But we forgive him. We forgive him not because he had a heart as figuratively good as his literal one sucked, or because he knew more about how to hold a cigarette than any nonsmoker in history, or because he got eighteen years when he should've gotten more.”
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About this quote
The line points out how we keep loving people despite their annoying or selfish moves because of the way they make us feel. It admits that forgiveness can come from habit, charm, or grief more than from moral perfection. Ask yourself who you excuse out of affection, and whether that forgiveness requires you to draw a clearer boundary. If it matters, do one small thing today that makes your choice to forgive intentional rather than automatic.
When to use it
- After my teammate took credit for my design at the meeting, I whispered this to Sarah to explain why we still grab beers with him on Fridays.
- When Dad cracked his way out of a real apology after missing Mom's birthday, I said it at the kitchen table while we decided whether to invite him to the next family dinner.
- In a cancer support group someone used the line to explain why we keep cheering for the patient who makes dangerous jokes and risky choices.
- After my roommate burned through everyone's rent money but stayed hilarious, I quoted it to the RA while we figured out whether to keep him on the lease.