"Force may subdue, but love gains, and he that forgives first wins the laurel"

William Penn’s words highlight the enduring strength of love and forgiveness over brute force. He contrasts two ways of resolving conflict: through sheer power or through compassionate understanding. When he says “force may subdue,” he acknowledges that coercion or violence can temporarily control or suppress people. Force achieves superficial, short-term obedience; it can instill fear or compliance, but it rarely touches hearts or transforms relationships. Subduing someone through force lacks genuine connection, often breeding resentment, division, and further conflict.

Penn goes on to assert, “but love gains.” Love here suggests empathy, kindness, and patience. It works through persuasion, shared humanity, and genuine goodwill. Love has the capacity to change minds and hearts, leading to voluntary cooperation, mutual respect, and lasting reconciliation. Whereas force compels outward submission, love inspires inner alignment, creating real, meaningful harmony between individuals or groups.

“If he that forgives first wins the laurel”, here, Penn evokes ancient symbols of victory. The laurel wreath, traditionally awarded to champions, represents true triumph. Forgiveness is depicted as the highest achievement, surpassing both physical force and even love’s persuasive efforts. The person who sets aside pride, resentment, or the desire for retribution, and instead extends forgiveness, claims the ultimate victory, not only over the conflict, but over their own baser instincts. Such a person brings about peace more deeply and enduringly.

Penn’s statement is a call to prioritize compassion over domination, reconciliation over punishment. It recognizes the limitations of coercion and the transformative power of forgiveness. By valuing forgiveness and love as the noblest responses to human conflict, Penn advocates for a way of relating that dignifies everyone involved and plants the seeds for enduring peace and understanding. His wisdom suggests that true greatness lies not in overpowering others, but in conquering one’s own ego for the sake of harmony.