An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind
Meaning: Revenge only creates more suffering.
Origin: Widely credited to Mahatma Gandhi, but no one has found these words in his collected speeches or writings; it is best read as a summary of his teaching on nonviolence. It plays on the biblical law of retaliation, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:24).
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Œil pour œil rend le monde aveugle (literally: Eye for eye makes the world blind)
- Spanish: Ojo por ojo deja al mundo ciego (literally: Eye for eye leaves the world blind)
- Japanese: 目には目をでは世界中が盲目になる (Me ni wa me wo de wa sekaijū ga mōmoku ni naru) (literally: Eye for eye makes the whole world blind)
- German: Auge um Auge – und die ganze Welt wird blind (literally: Eye for eye — and the whole world goes blind)
More proverbs about Morality
- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you — Treat people the way you want to be treated.
- Don't bite the hand that feeds you — Don't harm those who help you.
- People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones — Don't criticize others if you have the same faults.
- The road to hell is paved with good intentions — Good plans are worthless without follow-through.
- The truth shall set you free — Honesty and truth lead to liberation.
- To err is human, to forgive divine — Making mistakes is natural; forgiving them is noble.