Source identified
Read & copy the quotation
“It is twice blest: it blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”
- Source
- The Merchant of Venice
- Date
- c. 1596
- Local voice
- Fictional character · Portia
Meaning of “It is twice blest: it blesseth him that…”
Mercy is described as reciprocal in effect: it helps the recipient, but it also changes the moral character of the person who chooses to give it.
Where does it come from?
The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1; Portia explains why mercy benefits both sides.
Why the local voice matters
Portia says this in the same Act 4 trial speech in The Merchant of Venice.
