Alexander Pope quote: To err is human; to forgive, divine.

To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Alexander Pope

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An Essay on Criticism l. 525 (1711). The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs notes, "Although known in Latin (humanum est errare, it is human to err) and in earlier English versions, this saying is generally quoted in Pope's words." The ODP cites "To offend is humaine, to repent diuine" (Henry Wotton, 1578) and "To erre is humane, to repent is divine" (James Howell, 1659).

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