Literary notes about magnanimous (AI summary)
Magnanimous is employed by writers to evoke an elevated sense of generosity and nobility that exceeds ordinary kindness. Authors such as Charles Dickens and Fyodor Dostoyevsky bestow the term upon characters who not only demonstrate courage and honesty but also an ability to forgive and rise above personal grievances, as in instances where a magnanimous spirit is both a moral ideal and a source of ironic contrast [1][2][3]. Historical and epic narratives also use the word to laud rulers and heroes whose gracious actions inspire admiration and loyalty, reinforcing a vision of leadership that is imbued with mercy and strength [4][5][6]. In this way, magnanimous serves as a powerful emblem of virtue and benevolence, enriching character portrayals and deepening the moral texture of the narrative [7][8].
- "Well, sir," replied Mr. Guppy with candour, "my wish is to BE magnanimous.
— from Bleak House by Charles Dickens - Mrs Wilfer thanked him with a magnanimous sigh, and again became an unresisting prey to that inscrutable toothache.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - But, I am sure that he is capable of good things, gentle things, even magnanimous things.”
— from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - Thus addressed by the magnanimous Sagara, Ansuman went with sorrow to that spot where the earth had been excavated.
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 - To live in the memory and esteem of future ages was the second wish of his magnanimous spirit.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - Lord Canning was an English statesman, and he was surpassingly magnanimous.
— from The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Marco Polo and da Pisa Rusticiano - I know you are a truly magnanimous man,” said Betsy, stopping in the little drawing-room, and with special warmth shaking hands with him once more.
— from Anna Karenina by graf Leo Tolstoy - 480 Besides to give a Kingdom hath been thought Greater and nobler done, and to lay down Far more magnanimous, then to assume.
— from The Poetical Works of John Milton by John Milton
