proverb · Words worth keeping
Him who errs, forgive once, but never twice.
Him who errs, forgive once, but never twice.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying sets a strict limit after a first pardon. It warns against repeatedly overlooking the same conduct, while leaving room to question the blanket rule and distinguish forgiveness from restored trust.
Example
After an agreed responsibility is missed again, a group reviews the arrangement and sets a clear boundary rather than simply repeating the earlier assurance.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The first error receives pardon, while the second is refused it. Read that sharp contrast as a warning that repeated conduct may need a different response, not as a universal arithmetic of forgiveness. Ask what happened, whether responsibility was accepted and what has changed. A harmless repeated mistake differs from deliberate harm, and a boundary can remain necessary even when resentment is released. The saying does not require withholding compassion forever. Its useful question concerns whether another pardon addresses the situation or merely leaves the same problem untouched.
When to use it
Use it to consider whether a repeated problem calls for changed expectations or boundaries.
Keep in mind
Do not apply a rigid two-strike rule to every mistake; forgiveness, consequences and renewed trust are different decisions.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (Spanish-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown