I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.

The statement frames hatred as a form of captivity: if you allow another person’s wrongdoing to make you hate, you let them “narrow and degrade” your inner life. Washington’s emphasis is not on excusing injustice but on protecting the self from moral corrosion and psychological domination. The “permit” language stresses agency—hatred is presented as a choice that can be refused. In a broader ethical sense, the quote argues that one’s character should not be dictated by an adversary; maintaining generosity or at least self-command becomes a way of preserving autonomy and dignity even under pressure.