Forego, forget, forgive, Then happy you shall live.
Forego, forget, forgive, Then happy you shall live.
Meaning in plain English
The saying recommends relinquishing resentment, forgetting a wrong and forgiving as a path towards a happier life. That is an aspiration, not a guarantee or a duty to excuse ongoing harm.
Example
After a minor dispute is resolved, a participant chooses to stop rehearsing it in later conversations while retaining the clearer agreement that prevents the same problem recurring.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The three verbs describe letting go of something claimed, putting a wrong out of mind and forgiving the person involved. Together they present release from resentment as desirable. The promised happy life is too broad to treat as a reliable outcome: feelings, circumstances and relationships are more complicated than one decision. A modern use should leave room for remembering what happened, maintaining distance or seeking a fair remedy. The useful invitation is to consider whether a settled grievance still occupies attention unnecessarily, without assuming that forgiveness requires restored trust or that someone is responsible for every unhappiness they experience.
When to use it
Use it cautiously to consider releasing resentment after a matter has been adequately addressed.
Keep in mind
Forgiveness is personal; it need not mean forgetting, restoring contact or accepting further harm.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 618 · Forego
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗
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