Explaining "To err is human, to forgive divine"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 26/10/2024, 14:53

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase suggests that making mistakes is a natural human trait, while forgiving others is a noble, divine quality.

Reflective and philosophical

The phrase is derived from Alexander Pope's poem "An Essay on Criticism," published in 1711.

Remembering that "to err is human, to forgive divine," she chose to forgive her friend for the misunderstanding.
When dealing with conflict, it's important to keep in mind that to err is human, to forgive divine.
He reminded himself that to err is human, to forgive divine, as he decided to let go of the past grievances.