"To err is human, to forgive is divine". Who said that? what's your stance on this quote?

Alexander Pope said this famous line.

This holds true for human beings from all walks and sections of life; irrespective of their class, sex, race, etc.
It is indeed difficult to forgive someone when he/she does us some wrong. Therefore, we are called upon to take on God's characteristics to forgive the wrong-doer. We as human beings cannot forgive when someones does us harm, but with God in us, we can easily forgive those who have wronged us in some way or the other. God forgives us our sins, however grievous they may be and does not remember them again...but shows utmost compassion to mankind. Therefore we also must practice the same and forgive the wrong-doer, for we never know when we might need someone to forgive us.

1) "An Essay on Criticism was the first major poem written by the English writer Alexander Pope (1688-1744). However, despite the title, the poem is not as much an original analysis as it is a compilation of Pope's various literary opinions. A reading of the poem makes it clear that he is addressing not so much the ingenuous reader as the intending writer. It is written in a type of rhyming verse called heroic couplets."

"Ah ne'er so dire a Thirst of Glory boast,
Nor in the Critick let the Man be lost!
Good-Nature and Good-Sense must ever join;
To err is human, to forgive divine.
[Part II] Lines 322-325. Compare: "To step aside is human ", Robert Burns, Address to the Unco Guid."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/To_err_is_human

"Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744) is generally regarded as the greatest English poet of the eighteenth century, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third most frequently quoted writer in the English language, after Shakespeare and Tennyson. Pope was a master of the heroic couplet."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pope

My opinion is that humans are also sometimes capable of forgiveness. This is beautiful when it happens, but I would not call it "divine" (I am rather from the Atheist kind...)

Already the Romans knew that to err is human:


2) "errare humanum est 'to err is human' From Seneca the Younger. The full quote is errare humanum est perseverare diabolicum: 'to err is human; to persist is of the Devil'."
Source and further information:
"List of Latin phrases"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_officio#E

"Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger) (c. 4 BC – AD 65) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger


3) "Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare. Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault — Marcus Tullius Cicero, Philippica XII, ii, 5."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_officio#E

"Marcus Tullius Cicero (Classical Latin pronounced [ˈkikeroː], usually pronounced /ˈsɪsəɹəʊ/ in English; January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, political theorist, philosopher, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
Cicero is generally perceived to be one of the most versatile minds of ancient Rome. He introduced the Romans to the chief schools of Greek philosophy and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary, distinguishing himself as a linguist, translator, and philosopher. An impressive orator and successful lawyer, Cicero probably thought his political career his most important achievement. Today, he is appreciated primarily for his humanism and philosophical and political writings."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero

Alexander Pope, 1699-1744

To error is human. To forgive is an option if it is deserved.

To forgive is human too.

Although known in Latin (humanum est errare, it is human to err) and in earlier English versions, this saying is generally quoted in Pope's words (quot. 1711). Cf. [c 1386 Chaucer Tale of Melibee l. 1264] The proverbe seith that ‘for to do synne is mannyssh, but certes for to persevere longe in synne is werk of the devel’; [1539 R. Morison tr. J. L. Vives' Introduction to Wisdom D7] It is naturally gyuen to al men, to erre, but to no man to perseuer‥therein.

To offend is humaine, to repent diuine, and to perseuere diuelish.[1578 H. Wotton tr. J. Yver's Courtly Controversy E3]

To erre is humane, to repent is divine, to persevere is Diabolicall.[1659 J. Howell Proverbs (French) 12]
Good-Nature and Good-Sense must ever join; To Err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine.[1711 Pope Essay on Criticism l. 525]

The modern moralist pardons everything, because he is not certain of anything, except that to err is human.
[1908 Times Literary Supplement 27 Mar. 1]

To err is human, to forgive divine: and the police have now taken up the role of divinities, making allowances for wrongdoers instead of apprehending them.
[2000 T. Dalrymple Life at Bottom (2001) 222]

- submitted by Mr. Wilbert A. Nahil >droyvig@yahoo.com<

Rollie is correct, of course, Alexander Pope, adding the dates of which I was unaware without looking up...thanks, Rollie.

In the Lord's Prayer, as most Christians such as myself are aware, there is the pleading to God that He forgive us (me) of our (my) sins (errs) against God, in the same manner that I forgive the sins of those who sin against us/me.

I have many times searched my life, and I would forgive, if I knew anyone who did, in fact, sin against me...but I am unable to determine that such person exists. So, I guess I got it kinda easy on my side of the deal. :-)

To do both is human.

Seriously, what is it with the romanticisation of good things and their separation from humanity. I can understand why we romantacise them, even from an evolutionary perspective, but the commonality in literature in which we separate them into human and non-human attributes seems silly to me. What is it with our species and self denigration?

Maybe that's also one of the biggest differences between us and animals. We are really really hard on ourselves for no apparent reason.

I am looking for the latin words that translate into english "To forgive divine" as I would like to get a tattoo that says "To err is human" (which is Humanum est errare translated into Latin).

Being as I am human, and nothing but human, Does that mean I'm off the hook with the whole forgiveness thing, cause most days I'd just rather not.

It depends on the situation. The world isn't all black and white. ^^

I believe more than a handful of people have repeated these words. The first man to speak these words was in fact General George Washington, The first president of these United States.

Sancho Panza says "To err is human to forgive is divine" (translated David Case) in the second volume of Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes in 1615. The character of Sancho Panza often gives speeches stringing together cliches and folk wisdom, which would lead one to assume this is not a new invention of Cervantes and for sure pre-dates Pope.