revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out for as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong, putteth the law out of office. certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior: for it is a prince’s part to pardon. and solomon, i am sure, saith, it is the glory of a man to pass by an offence. that which is past, is gone, and irrevocable; and wise men have enough to do, with things present, and to come: therefore, they do but trifle with themselves, that labour in past matters. there is no man doth a wrong, for the wrong’s sake; but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, or honour, or the like. therefore why should i be angry with a man, for loving himself better than me?

復仇是一種野生的裁判。人類底天性越是向著它，法律就越應當耘除它。因為頭一個罪惡不過是觸犯了法律;可是報復這件罪惡的舉動卻把法律底位子奪了。無疑地，復了仇不過使一個人和他底仇人得平而已，但若置而不較，他就比他底仇人高出一等了;因為寬宥仇敵是君王底氣概也。確信所羅門有言：“人有怨仇而不報是他底光榮”。過去的事情是已經過去了，并且是叫不回來了;明智的人留心現在和將來的事情已經夠忙的了;所以那些勞勞于過去的事情的人簡直是枉費心力而已。沒有人是為了作惡而作惡的;而是為了要給自己取得利益、樂趣、或榮譽、或類此的事情的。因此為什么我要對著某人因為他愛自己勝于愛我而生氣呢?