Top 100 Forgiveness Quotes of All Time

A short, finished list rather than an endless feed: 100 of the best forgiveness quotes ever written, picked out of the full forgiveness archive on QuoteForever. You will find T. D. Jakes, Tyler Perry, Lewis B. Smedes and Conor Lamb among them.

Read the list top to bottom, or use it as a starting point - every author name links to everything else they said, and every quote has its own page you can share or turn into an image.

1

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

2

Whatever our religion, we know that if we really want to love, we must first learn to forgive before anything else.

3

Let us forgive each other - only then will we live in peace.

4

Never think you can separate who you are from what you're doing.

5

None of us wants to admit that we hate someone... When we deny our hate we detour around the crisis of forgiveness. We suppress our spite, make adjustments, and make believe we are too good to be hateful. But the truth is that we do not dare to risk admitting the hate we feel because we do not dare to risk forgiving the person we hate.

6

...Forgiving is not having to understand. Understanding may come later, in fragments, an insight here and a glimpse there, after forgiving.

7

Heaven is populated entirely by forgiven sinners

8

To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides.

9

Because God's justice is inexorable, it is hard to obtain forgiveness for sins committed with complete deliberation.

10

Every year during their High Holy Days, the Jewish community reminds us all of our need for repentance and forgiveness.

11

I can have peace of mind only when I forgive rather than judge.

12

It seems to me like Mother Nature's mercy and forgiveness have run dry, as we ceaselessly abuse her and take her for granted in order for us to continue our addiction to using fossil fuels. I've gotta say, I don't blame her. Not one bit.

13

One important theme is the extent to which one can ever correct an error, especially outside any frame of religious forgiveness. All of us have done something we regret - how we manage to remove that from our conscience, or whether that's even possible, interested me.

14

The people who did you wrong or who didn't quite know how to show up, you forgive them. And forgiving them allows you to forgive yourself too.

15

My desire is to stand up and brush myself off when I make mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

16

I am making amends and seeking forgiveness. My only hope is that some good can come out of my situation.

17

If there are occasions when my grape turned into a raisin and my joy bell lost its resonance, please forgive me. Charge it to my head and not to my heart.

18

The Dalai Lama's entire being is about peace and harmony, forgiveness and self-discipline. Those are qualities to be admired. I am really looking forward to meeting His Holiness.

19

I think it's important to remember that Christianity was based in love and tolerance and forgiveness and acceptance.

20

God forgives those who invent what they need.

21

I did a lot of things that I regretted and I certainly paid for my mistakes. You have to go and ask for forgiveness and it wasn't until I really started doing good and doing right, by other people as well as myself, that I really started to feel that guilt go away. So I don't have a problem going to sleep at night.

22

Well, of course I think people can be forgiven. But our justice system is not set up to dispense forgiveness. You can go to the local priest for that.

23

I believe there are more films that involve love and forgiveness than violence, but they often seem fake and are almost embarrassing to watch.

24

God created us for love, for union, for forgiveness and compassion and, yet, that has not been our storyline. That has not been our history.

25

The fact is there is forgiveness for those who seek God. And I believe in the power of redemption.

26

The lesson is that you can still make mistakes and be forgiven.

27

Every act of disobedience committed due to passion, its forgiveness is hoped for. Every act of disobedience committed due to arrogance, its forgiveness is not hoped for because the root of Satan’s disobedience was arrogance, whereas the root of Adam’s lapse was passion.

28

I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim. It's a gift you give yourself.

29

Forgiveness is about empowering yourself, rather than empowering your past.

30

I think it is important that we rebuild an atmosphere of forgiveness and civility in every aspect of our lives.

31

Here is the amazing thing about Easter; the resurrection Sunday for Christians is this, that Christ in the dying moments on the cross gives us the greatest illustration of forgiveness possible.

32

The most important thing that I learned in growing up is that forgiveness is something that, when you do it, you free yourself to move on.

33

There is no forgiveness in nature.

34

Anger ventilated often hurries towards forgiveness; anger concealed often hardens into revenge.

35

Anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.

36

Forgiveness isn't just the absence of anger. I think it's also the presence of self-love, when you actually begin to value yourself.

37

Every one of us have been disappointed before and have had to go through the grieving process of anger and, you know, disappointment and then acceptance and forgiveness.

38

I believe forgiveness is the best form of love in any relationship. It takes a strong person to say they're sorry and an even stronger person to forgive.

39

For the millions of Americans, like my family, who believe that there is a creator God who can be known personally, Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' offer of love and forgiveness for all people.

40

It's so important in marriage to let the little things go and let the pride go. Forgiveness is so important, and communication. Don't major on the minors.

41

God forgive you, but I never can.

42

Forgive, forget. Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours.

43

Forgive many things in others; nothing in yourself.

44

Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.

45

It's far easier to forgive an enemy after you've got even with him.

46

There would be no need for love if perfection were possible. Love arises from our imperfection, from our being different and always in need of the forgiveness, encouragement and that missing half of ourselves that we are searching for, as the Greek myth tells us, in order to complete ourselves.

47

Hate is self-destructive. If you hate somebody, you're not hurting the person you hate. You're hurting yourself. And that's a healing. Actually, it's a real healing, forgiveness.

48

Just knowing you don't have the answers is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn - and those are all good things.

49

You can't legislate into existence an act of forgiveness and a true confession; those are mysteries of the human heart, and they occur between one individual and another individual, not a panel of judges sitting asking questions, trying to test your truth.

50

Our lack of forgiveness makes us hate, and our lack of compassion makes us hard-hearted. Pride in our hearts makes us resentful and keeps our memory in a constant whirlwind of passion and self-pity.

51

I struggle with insecurities. I struggle with forgiveness. I struggle with letting someone go that did me dirty without vengeance, which is an evil thing.

52

If you are bitter, you are like a dry leaf that you can just squash, and you can get blown away by the wind. There is much more wisdom in forgiveness.

53

Things happen for a reason, and the only thing you can do is at night time get on your knees and ask God for forgiveness for anything that you did that you didn't feel was right.

54

The themes in 'Violet' are universal: accepting yourself with all of your flaws, moving on, and the forgiveness and freedom that comes along with that.

55

Satan tries to counterfeit the work of God, and by doing this, he may deceive many. To make us lose hope, feel miserable like himself, and believe that we are beyond forgiveness, Satan might even misuse words from the scriptures that emphasize the justice of God in order to imply that there is no mercy.

56

Many people have trouble with forgiveness because they have been taught it is a singular act to be completed in one sitting. That is not so. Forgiveness has many layers, many seasons.

57

There is no forgiveness, justice, or healing on any level when hate is involved.

58

For the support and help from the people of Indonesia that I received during my leadership, I ask for forgiveness if there have been any mistakes or shortcomings. Hopefully the people of Indonesia will remain victorious based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

59

New kinds of heroics need to be celebrated - like love, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, diplomacy - or we're not going to get there.

60

People have to render judgment. In my case, I've said upfront openly, I've made mistakes at times. I've had to go to God for forgiveness. I've had to seek reconciliation. But I'm also a 68-year-old grandfather, and I think people have to measure who I am now and whether I'm a person they can trust.

61

It's important to recognize that forgiveness is more than mere words; it's a heart attitude that induces a spiritual transformation.

62

The full benefit of forgiveness of sin through the Savior's Atonement begins with repentance and baptism and then expands upon receiving the Holy Ghost.

63

Forgiveness is for yourself because it frees you. It lets you out of that prison you put yourself in.

64

Thankfully, forgiveness, and the healing it brings in its wake, has nothing to do with 'deserve.'

65

Forgiveness is a big part of - especially post-civil rights movement - is a big part of African-American Christianity, and I wasn't raised within the Christian church; I wasn't raised within any church.

66

In 2006, 2 years ago, I made a very serious mistake. A mistake that I am responsible for and no one else. In 2006, I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness.

67

I ask the people of Connecticut for their forgiveness, I should have paid more attention to people around me and people that I trusted but I am sorry for my actions and take full responsibility.

68

I desired to become a Christian, and prayed earnestly for the forgiveness of my sins. I felt a peace of mind resulting, and loved every one, feeling desirous that all should have their sins forgiven, and love Jesus as I did.

69

I learned that I have purpose and my experiences no matter how horrible taught me heart, strength and forgiveness!

70

The FREED Vets Act will make student debt forgiveness for eligible disabled veterans automatic, both now and in the future.

71

My parents are very good examples of Christians. They are big on forgiveness.

72

My husband was a serial adulterer, and there was nothing I could do about it: no questions I could ask him, no argument I could have with him, no explanation he could give me or pleas he could make for forgiveness.

73

Look at the things you've done and ask for forgiveness. After clearing out that wreckage from the past, you can move forward, in a way, to keep your finger on the pulse.

74

If I get to the end of my life, if I die, and I find out religion is one big lie, I still won't regret it because it's helped me to live a better life, to be a better person, to care about people, to believe in forgiveness, to believe in hope.

75

If you look at everything I do - even in 'Boo!' there's a message, and it's always 'faith, family, forgiveness.' That's the greatest gift that I've been given. I can get a message to the very people I grew up with, the millions who love what I do.

76

Forgiveness is enshrined in the Lord's prayer - forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. These scriptures point to the power of forgiveness not only as a way to absolve transgressions but to ensure that the person extending forgiveness will be forgiven of theirs.

77

God's forgiveness is the only thing. And, well, I take full responsibility for the adultery. It was my fault and, you know, no matter what went on, the man has to take responsibility; and I do.

78

I believe in forgiveness.

79

You have to work on forgiveness and love, and that includes your own self.

80

Forgiveness provides hope, joy, and a bright future that nothing else can.

81

We only learn at the speed of pain, and we don't have others in our lives without forgiveness.

82

The characteristics of an authentically empowered personality are humbleness, clarity, forgiveness and love.

83

I am 100% in the camp that says forgiveness is mostly about the forgiver.

84

As a practicing Catholic all my life, my faith and the church are never far from my mind. The lessons I learned in the church have structured the way I've approached my life and my career. They were lessons of grace, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion.

85

In reality, student loan forgiveness is welfare for the rich: a federal mandate that people who will make less money on average over the course of their lives bail out people who will make more money on average over the course of their lives.

86

When I felt real forgiveness, my heart was set free.

87

I have always had tremendous amount of patience, compassion and forgiveness.

88

Forgiveness isn't just a blessing you deliver to another human being. Forgiveness is also a gift you give yourself.

89

I think when you're happy, emotions are right near the top - mine definitely are. I cry easily, I laugh easily, I lose my temper easily... and I beg for forgiveness easily.

90

'Caught' is a novel of forgiveness, and the past and the present - who should be and who shouldn't be forgiven. None of my books are ever just about thrills, or it won't work.

91

The forgiveness that comes of patient interpretation seems impossible when those nearest to your heart are threatened.

92

If you're truthful with yourself and others, forgiveness clears the path to righteousness, to grace. All we want is grace. We all want that light in our lives. And we can only get that when we go deep into truth.

93

What if we strove for compassion, for mercy, for forgiveness? And what if we did this for everybody, including people who have harmed others?

94

Forgiveness, in some cases, is a flipping miracle in the sense that you're fighting, and suddenly something happens. It's a kind of grace. Whether you believe in God or not, something happens, and it's transformative.

95

I introduced the FREED Vets Act to make student debt forgiveness for disabled veterans automatic, both now and in the future, regardless of who is in the White House.

96

The heart of who I am as a person and as a man is forgiveness, after forgiving my father for a lot of things that were done when I was child.

97

A prayer that must have a cannon behind it better never be uttered. Forgiveness ought not to go in partnership with shot and shell. Love need not carry knives and revolvers.

98

Apology is often the first step in correcting a wrong. Having moved for a position of saying 'I don't need forgiveness,' Mr. Trump is now taking a second look at past behaviors, things that he's said and done that he regrets. While he is not asking for forgiveness for being human, he is admitting that he's made mistakes and humbly making apologies.

99

I think forgiveness is overrated, personally, because some things people do are unforgivable.

100

I can't turn the clock back but I can seek the forgiveness of those I've wronged.

More Forgiveness quotes

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