He who cannot forgive others destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass.

The saying frames forgiveness as a form of moral reciprocity: refusing to pardon others undermines one’s own future hope of pardon, whether from God, society, or those one later wrongs. The “bridge” metaphor emphasizes interdependence—human relationships and communal life require passable crossings of mercy and reconciliation. To destroy that bridge is to isolate oneself and to foreclose the very route by which one might return to fellowship after failure. The line also implies humility: because everyone will eventually need forgiveness, extending it is both ethical and prudent, preserving the conditions that make restoration possible.