Magnanimity always triumphs

“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him” (Booker T Washington)

Revenge is the predominate choice of response in our world today. We see this in the multitude of wars and discrepancies all over the planet. It’s characterised in today’s litigious societies and even experienced in religious and family disputes. The ability to control one’s emotions and actions in response to indignities done by others is becoming increasingly rare. Yet, such control is at the very core of the principle of magnanimity. A magnanimous person is one who rejects revenge and rises above anger while in pursuit of more worthy ends.

One of the highest forms of magnanimity is forgiveness. When we don’t forgive, we give our futures away. We empower other people’s weaknesses, past or present, to take away our power. Today and tomorrow are held hostage by yesterday. Booker T Washington struggled against deep-seated white prejudice to establish his Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. One day, as he passed the mansion of a wealthy woman to whom he was just another black man, he heard her call out, “Come here, boy, I need some wood chopped.” Without a word, Washington peeled off his jacket, picked up the axe and went to work, not only cutting a pile of wood, but carrying it into the house. He had scarcely left when a servant said, “That was Professor Washington, Ma’am.” Abashed, the woman went to the Institute to apologise. Washington replied, “There’s no need for apology, madam. I’m delighted to do favours for my friends.” The woman became one of Tuskegee’s warmest and most generous supporters. Washington refused to be disturbed by insult or persecution.

Dr Stephen R Covey ( Everyday Greatness, Reader’s Digest) notes: “Magnanimity is not a common term. Many people do not recognise it when they hear it. But they know it immediately when it is explained, and most know it as one of the areas they can personally improve upon. For too many of us are quick to seek revenge, swift to criticise, fast to find fault, and speedy to get even. Yes, too many of us are slow to hold our tongues, slow to forgive, and even slower to forget. One of the leading reasons for a lack of magnanimity is what I call a scarcity mentality. People with a scarcity mentality think there is only so much in the world to go around. It’s as if they see life as a pie. When another person gets a big piece, then they get less. Such people are always trying to get even, trying to pull others down to their level so they can get an equal or even bigger piece of the pie. But it is an abundance mentality and a feeling of inner security that truly are at the root of magnanimity. And though magnanimity may not be an everyday term, it will always be one of the most distinguishing characteristics of Everyday Greatness.”

The ability to control your emotions (emotional intelligence), to pause before acting or reacting, even in heated conditions, is paramount to fostering greatness in yourself and others. One of the highest forms of magnanimity is forgiveness. Master that and magnanimity will always triumph.

“He drew a circle that shut me out -

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But Love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in.” (Edwin Markham)

Originally published at https://www.stretchforgrowth.com on November 24, 2024.