Forgiveness was the act of letting go of anger and resentment towards someone who had wronged one individual.
In 2366, Q said to Jean-Luc Picard, "You're very smart, Jean-Luc, but I know human beings. They're all sopping over with compassion and forgiveness. They can't wait to absolve almost any offence. It's an inherent weakness in the breed." (TNG: "Deja Q")