The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the read more

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this scept'red sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.

Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny.

There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny.

When all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view I'm lost,
read more

When all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view I'm lost,
In wonder, love and praise.

Much that we call evil is really good in disguises; and we should not quarrel rashly with adversities not yet read more

Much that we call evil is really good in disguises; and we should not quarrel rashly with adversities not yet understood, nor overlook the mercies often bound up in them.

It is noble to grant life to the vanquished.
[Lat., Pulchrum est vitam donare minori.]

It is noble to grant life to the vanquished.
[Lat., Pulchrum est vitam donare minori.]

Who will not mercie unto others show,
How can he mercie ever hope to have?

Who will not mercie unto others show,
How can he mercie ever hope to have?

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.