Inspirational Forgiveness Quotes

• The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.

  Thomas Szasz

  Life, Forgiveness, Letting Go

  The Second Sin (1973) "Personal Conduct"

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• We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate - thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising.

  Maya Angelou

  Forgiveness, Peace, Attitude

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• It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.

  William Blake

  Friendship, Forgiveness, Depressing

  William Blake (2008). “The Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake”, p.251, Univ of California Press

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• Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.

  Nelson Mandela

  Forgiveness, Letting Go, Spiritual

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• Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

  John F. Kennedy

  Funny, Forgiveness, Witty

  John F. Kennedy, Dominique Enright (2003). “The Wicked Wit of John F. Kennedy”, Michael O'Mara Books

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• Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.

  J. K. Rowling

  Forgiveness, People, Forgiving

  26 Copy quote

• Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.

  Joan Lunden

  Forgiveness, Hurt, Laughter

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• Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.

  George MacDonald

  Forgiveness, Receiving Love, Giving

  George MacDonald (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of George MacDonald (Illustrated)”, p.1838, Delphi Classics

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• There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.

  Bryant H. McGill

  Love, Inspirational, Forgiveness

  95 Copy quote

• When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.

  Alan Paton

  Forgiveness, Forgiving, Done

  Alan Paton (2011). “Too Late The Phalarope”, p.278, Simon and Schuster

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• Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again.

  Dag Hammarskjold

  Forgiveness, Dream, Children

  "Markings". Book by Dag Hammarskjöld, 1963.

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• He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.

  George Herbert

  Relationship, Forgiveness, Faith

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• Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.

  Marlene Dietrich

  Marriage, Forgiveness, Women

  Marlene Dietrich's ABC (1962)

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• The weak can never forgive.

  Mahatma Gandhi

  Strength, Being Strong, Forgiveness

  Mahatma Gandhi (1980). “All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections”, p.155, A&C Black

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• Forgiveness is choosing to love. It is the first skill of self-giving love.

  Mahatma Gandhi

  Love, Forgiveness, Positive Thinking

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• To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

  Confucius

  Positive, Forgiveness, Attitude

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• Forgiveness saves the expense of anger.

  Hannah More

  Forgiveness, Forgiving, Expenses

  Hannah More (1840). “The Miscellaneous Works of Hannah More”, p.639

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• When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.

  Catherine Ponder

  Relationship, Forgiveness, Emotional

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• Forgiveness is the final form of love.

  Reinhold Niebuhr

  Love, Forgiveness, Philosophical

  109 Copy quote

• Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

  Robert Kennedy

  Forgiveness, Clever, Names

  Quoted in Nancy McPhee, The Second Book of Insults (1981)

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• He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.

  George Herbert

  Forgiveness, Bridges, Heaven

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• Forgive those who have hurt you.

  Les Brown

  Forgiveness, Hurt, Forgiving

  66 Copy quote

• Perpetrators who receive the gift of forgiveness are given a chance to change

  Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela

  Forgiveness, Chance, Perpetrators

  Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (2013). “A Human Being Died That Night: Forgiving Apartheid's Chief Killer”, p.124, Portobello Books

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  People can be more forgiving than you can imagine. But you have to forgive yourself. Let go of what's bitter and move on.

  Bill Cosby

  Inspirational, Moving On, Forgiveness

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• It takes one person to forgive, it takes two people to be reunited.

  Lewis B. Smedes

  Inspirational, Forgiveness, Letting Go

  71 Copy quote