Hath any wronged thee? Be bravely revenged.—Slight it, and the work is begun; forgive it, and it is finished.—He is below himself that is not above any injury.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
One thing you will probably remember well is any time you forgive and forget.
—Franklin P. Jones
Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
It is more easy to forgive the weak who have injured us, than the powerful whom we have injured. That conduct will be continued by our fears which commenced in our resentment. He that has gone so far as to cut the claws of the lion will not feel himself quite secure until he has also drawn his teeth.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Forgiveness is an inner correction that lightens the heart. It is for our peace of mind first. Being at peace, we will now have peace to give to others, and this is the most permanent and valuable gift we can possibly give.
—Gerald Jampolsky (b.1925) American Psychiatrist
There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
We forgive too little; forget too much.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
A friend is never known till a man has need.
—Unknown
Decide to forgive: For resentment is negative; resentment is poisoning; resentment diminishes and devours the self.
—Robert Muller (1923–2010) United Nations Civil Servant
If you haven’t forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive others?
—Dolores Huerta (b.1930) Mexican-American Labor Activist
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
Absolute virtue is impossible and the republic of forgiveness leads, with implacable logic, to the republic of the guillotine.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
One forgives to the degree that one loves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Forgiveness is the way to true health and happiness.
—Gerald Jampolsky (b.1925) American Psychiatrist
No one is happy all his life long.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Without forgiveness, there’s no future.
—Desmond Tutu (b.1931) South African Clergyman
The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Who forgives wins.
—African Proverb
Amendment is repentance.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
One can forgive a murder but not impoliteness.
—Chinese Proverb
In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
For my part I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Life that ever needs forgiveness has for its first duty to forgive.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there
—Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983) Dutch Jewish Humanist
To what extent is any given man morally responsible for any given act? We do not know.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.
—Paul Boese
Forgiveness is a virtue of the learned. To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Subhashita Manjari Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs
Forget and forgive. This is not difficult when properly understood. It means forget inconvenient duties, then forgive yourself for forgetting. By rigid practice and stern determination, it comes easy.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
To err is human, to forgive divine.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet