“I do not want to bring anyone to book. I am sure that, when the truth becomes known, they will be sorry for their conduct.”
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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's Life in His Own Words' (compilation of Gandhi's writings); text carries a stray footnote marker ('75').
About this quote
Instead of dragging wrongdoers before a tribunal, this leans on a slower force: that once the full truth is out, most people feel the sting of their own conduct. It trades the satisfaction of punishment for the possibility of genuine remorse and a mended relationship.
When to use it
- A shop owner who quietly forgives a caught-out employee often finds the person works twice as hard to atone.
- A parent who lets a child's lie surface on its own, without a scene, watches guilt do the correcting.
- A manager who spares a team member public blame gets a private apology and a changed habit instead.