What does this quote mean?

“If he trespass against thee seven times in a day ... thou shalt forgive him.”

Repeated offence makes forgiveness harder, which is exactly the point of the passage: the moral demand is not limited to the first easy opportunity to forgive.

Source note: Luke 17:4 in the King James Version; the middle repetition is shortened with an ellipsis while preserving the verse’s instruction.

“I wish'd the man a dinner, and sat still.”

The satirical speaker portrays restraint as refusing to escalate a literary attack, answering hostility with a comic wish that the critic’s need might be relieved.

Source note: Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot; Pope recalls Gildon’s attack and presents his own non-response in a deliberately witty, self-defending passage.

“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”

Retaliation is rejected when it would reproduce the very behavior one condemns.

Source note: Meditations 6.6; wording varies by translation.

“Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath.”

The instruction interrupts retaliation by asking people not to make personal revenge their response to injury, creating room for restraint and release.

Source note: Romans 12:19, King James Version; Paul tells readers not to avenge themselves within a larger sequence about responding to enemies and evil.

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Good judgment starts by hearing more quickly than speaking or reacting, especially when anger is close to the surface.

Source note: James 1:19 in the King James Version, pairing readiness to listen with restraint in speech and anger.

“Mildness and gentleness are more manly than anger and discontent.”

Strength is located in self-command and humane restraint rather than aggression, making gentleness compatible with courage.

Source note: Meditations, Book XI; George Long translation, in a reflection on responding to wrongdoing without anger.