Author/cite of this quote???

Can someone please cite the author (and the full & correct version) of this quote? I strongly suspect I did not make this up myself. It goes something like:

“Sometimes it does just a much harm to take offense when none is meant, as to intend offense in the first place.”

(I’ve checked Bartlett’s, no luck.)

Anybody? I promise this will be my only bump.

Can anybody recommend a message board where I may have a better chance of getting the answer? Thanks.

This website is good http://www.bartleby.com/quotations/

However, I searched on “offense” and did not find your quote. I searched on “harm” and found 130 hits. I didn’t read them.

Good Luck,
Tinker

This is just a post to note that people aren’t ignoring you, but are havign as many problems as I am in finding the answer for you.

Better luck

I think it’s more of a platitude than a quote…

“To take offense where none is given” or “To take offense where non is offered” is pretty common phraseology.

The closest I can find is