Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.
Jane chooses mercy over bookkeeping. By personifying “animosity” as something one nurses, the line shows how resentment can become a habit we feed. The insight comes after years of being mistreated, which makes it costly and real. Forgiveness here does not erase memory; it frees energy for better work. In the plot, this softens her heart without weakening her spine. It also prepares the ground for later reconciliations. The phrasing is gentle and direct, which keeps it from sounding sanctimonious. Many readers feel the relief tucked inside the thought.