Forgiveness is perfect when the sin is not remembered. The most wicked of men is he who accepts no apology, covers no sin, and forgives no fault. Small men transgress, great men forgive. A noble man condones and pardons, and when by chance he finds out a sin, he conceals it. A man said to another who had spoken evil of him: "If what you have said be true, may God forgive me; and if false, may He forgive you." CLEMENCY, FORBEARANCE, AND GENTLENESS _Koran_. Those who worship the Merciful One are they who walk on the earth gently, and who, when fools speak to them, say "Peace." (25, 64.) _Traditions_. Be friendly to him who would be unfriendly to you, give him who will not give you, and forbear with him who would do you harm. Next to faith in God, the chief duty of man is to treat his fellow men with gentleness and courtesy. _Sayings and Proverbs_. Gentleness is one of the noblest traits in a man's character. A gentle man is a man of great beauty. One of the surest evidences of gentleness is tenderness to fools. The fierce anger of a foolish man is checked by gentleness as a fierce fire is extinguished by water. Gentleness is sometimes an humiliation, and he who is always forbearing and patient may be trodden down by fools. If you honour a vile man, you disgrace the code of honour. HUMILITY Humility is that line of conduct which is a mean between overbearing pride on the one hand and abject servility on the other, as economy is the middle term between extravagance and avarice. Humility is the crown of nobility, a ladder to honour, and a means of procuring love and esteem. He who humbleth himself, God lifteth him up. When Abu-Bekr, "the righteous" (the first Khalif), was praised, he used to say: "O God, Thou knowest me better than I know myself, and I know myself better than they know me. Make me, I pray Thee, better than they suppose; forgive me what they know not, and lay not to my account what they say." A wise man was once asked whether he knew of any good which is not coveted, or any evil which deserves no mercy, and he said: "Yes, they are humility and pride." To despise a proud man is true humility. TRUE NOBILITY True nobility lies in high character and refined manners, not in noble birth or ancient pedigree. A noble man is he who aims at noble ends--not he who glories in an ancestry mouldering in the dust. A noble man is noble though he come to want, and a base man is base though he walks on pearls. A lion is a lion though his claws be clipped, and a dog is a dog though he wear a collar of gold. He who disregards his own honour gets no good from an honourable lineage. Learning and high principles take the place of noble birth, and cover the shame of a low origin. A branch tells of what stock it comes. SELF-RESPECT, AND THE SENSE OF SHAME Son of man, if you have no self-respect, do what you will. Men see no fault in one who respects himself.