"forgive and forget" is an expression meaning to completely
absolve someone of
responsibility for a
wrongdoing against you. The idea is that you have not only decided not to
hold it against them; you've decided to live
as if it had never happened. It's not really a
recommendation for behavior, as many such
sayings are. People who
forgive and
forget are seen as both extremely
good-hearted and somewhat
gullible.
One reason the expression is useful is because it permits a
classification system. For example, say we're at a
party and I
throw up into your favorite
top hat. You can:
1) neither forgive nor forget: Come to the next party and continuously
guilt-trip me about it
2) not forgive, but forget: Come to the next party and act strangely cold towards me, for no apparent reason
3) forgive but not forget: Come to the next party and continue to be my friend, but refrain from wearing hats around me.
4) forgive and forget: Come to the next party, engage in friendly conversation with me, and show off your new $2000
art object hat made out of air sickness bags without fear or reservation.
I generall consider forgiving but not forgetting to be the
wisest and most
compassionate way to go.