"Forgiveness to the injured does belong; but they ne'er pardon who have done wrong"

Forgiveness carries a moral weight that rests most naturally with those who have been hurt. The ability and the right to forgive belong to the injured, to those who have felt the sting of another’s actions and who must grapple with their pain. Granting forgiveness is thus a power that is simultaneously difficult and noble, an act that transcends the original harm and signals emotional strength and moral generosity. This idea elevates the injured party, giving them not only ownership of their experience but also the authority to release themselves and their wrongdoer from the bondage of resentment.

Yet, the second line addresses an irony about human behavior that remains as true today as it was in Dryden’s era. Those who have done wrong, those burdened by guilt for causing pain, are far less likely to display pardon or mercy towards others. The phrase reveals a psychological insight: wrongdoing can lead individuals to become defensive, resentful, or harsh, and rarely does it cultivate compassion. Perhaps the guilt of their actions makes them uncomfortable with the idea of mercy, or perhaps their egocentrism and lack of self-reflection block the path to empathy. They may even be so focused on justifying or denying their own actions that they cannot extend the understanding or forgiveness they themselves require.

Furthermore, Dryden’s words expose an asymmetry in human relations. Justice, healing, and reconciliation depend more on the injured’s willingness to forgive than on the wrongdoer’s capacity to do the same. It is often easier for those untouched by guilt to be generous, while those who have harmed others may harden themselves, refusing forgiveness not just to those they have injured but also to others in their sphere. Thus, forgiveness becomes an act of moral and emotional sovereignty, relying on the strength of the vulnerable rather than those who have chosen harm.