David's mercy not meanness

Usually we want mercy extended to us but we can have an issue showing that same mercy to someone else. Here Saul is back on David's trail, seeking to kill him and his men for no real reason. When David had the perfect chance to show his meanness to Saul he instead showed mercy. He was certainly tempted to do Saul harm but instead took a piece of Saul's clothes to prove he had shown mercy and not malice.