“Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred.”
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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 (Young India era); reproduced verbatim across reputable collections but no confirmed issue/date primary located here.
About this quote
Resentment is expensive to carry — it feeds on itself and drains the one holding it, while goodwill tends to compound and hold a relationship together over time. What you take by force has to be defended forever; what you earn through care mostly stays given.
When to use it
- Coworkers who clear the air after a clash keep working well for years, while the one who nurses the grudge ends up isolated.
- A parent who forgives a teenager's slip keeps the bond, where constant blame slowly drives the kid away.
- Neighbors who help each other after a storm grow close, but a feud over a fence line just keeps escalating.