Both Uses of
magnanimous
in
Notes from the Underground
- I should certainly have never been able to do anything from being magnanimous--neither to forgive, for my assailant would perhaps have slapped me from the laws of nature, and one cannot forgive the laws of nature; nor to forget, for even if it were owing to the laws of nature, it is insulting all the same.†
Chpt 1.2
- Finally, even if I had wanted to be anything but magnanimous, had desired on the contrary to revenge myself on my assailant, I could not have revenged myself on any one for anything because I should certainly never have made up my mind to do anything, even if I had been able to.†
Chpt 1.2 *
Definition:
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(magnanimous) kind and generous in spirit -- especially toward those defeated in battle