73 Forgiveness Quotes to Forgive to Let Go

The act of forgiveness means showing kindness and understanding towards those who have upset us, regardless of whether we believe they merit such treatment.

Experiencing hurt often prompts us to harbor resentment and withhold forgiveness; it’s a common human response.

However, the essence of forgiveness doesn’t lie in determining the deservingness of the one who wronged us. It’s rather about releasing our pent-up anger and achieving inner serenity.

Through the act of forgiving, we relinquish the negative emotions that impede our progress. We then begin to experience relief, shifting our focus to the positive aspects of our life.

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Admittedly, forgiving can pose a significant challenge at times. It’s particularly difficult when our anger seems overwhelming.

Nevertheless, as we gradually release our grievances and embrace forgiveness, we start experiencing improvement in our emotional wellbeing as our fury subsides.

Within this piece, you will discover numerous inspirational quotes on forgiveness. These insightful expressions can assist you in forgiving others and even more crucially, in forgiving yourself.

Bear in mind that self-forgiveness is a critical step towards recovery and future progress in life.


Best Forgiveness Quotes

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1. “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” ~ John F. Kennedy.

2. “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” ~ Josh Billings

3. “Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.” ~ Jane Austen

4. “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.” ~ Maya Angelou

5. “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” ~ Mark Twain.

6. “Many times, the decisions we make affect and hurt your closest friends and family the most. I have a lot of regrets in that regard. But God has forgiven me, which I am very thankful for. It has enabled me to forgive myself and move forward one day at a time.” ~ Lex Luger

7.  “Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.” ~ Edwin Hubbel Chapin

8. “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

9. “Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” ~ Cherie Carter-Scott

10. “Forgiveness is a sign that the person who has wronged you means more to you than the wrong they have dealt.” ~ Ben Greenhalgh.

Powerful Forgiveness Quotes

11. “I free myself from hatred through forgiveness and love.” ~ Paulo Coelho

12. “You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.” ~ Lewis B. Smedes

13. “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” ~ Corrie ten Boom

14. “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” ~ Oscar Wilde

15. “Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment.” ~ Gary Chapman

16. “Forgiveness means it finally becomes unimportant that you hit back.” ~ Anne Lamott

17. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” ~ Alexander Pope.

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18. “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” ~ James Baldwin

19. “When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future.” ~ Bernard Meltzer

20. “We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it’s absolutely not; it takes a very strong person to forgive.” ~ T.D. Jakes

21. “True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience.”” ~ Oprah Winfrey

22. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” ~ Lewis B. Smedes.

Great Forgiveness Quotes

23. “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.” ~ Suzanne Somers

24. “Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.” ~ Marianne Williamson

25. “The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” ~ John Green

26. “Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head.” ~ Ann Landers

27. “Anytime you try to be a loving person, you’re doing your part to save the world.” ~ Marianne Williamson

28. “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” ~ Josh Billings

29. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

30. “Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.” ~ Indira Gandhi.

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31. “If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.” ~ Cesare Pavese

32. “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

33. “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

34. “A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable.” ~ Robert Fripp

35. “We cannot embrace God’s forgiveness if we are so busy clinging to past wounds and nursing old grudges.” ~ T. D. Jakes.

Also read: Hard Work Quotes and Humility Quotes

Famous Forgiveness Quotes

36. “Only the brave know how to forgive… a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.” ~ Laurence Sterne

37. “He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” ~ George Herbert

38. “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

39. “Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.” ~ William Arthur Ward

40. “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

41. “Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.” ~ Edwin Hubbel Chapin

42. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

43. “When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.” ~ Emo Philips

44. “The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” ~ Thomas Szasz

45. “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.” ~ Suzanne Somers

46. “Forgiveness is the economy of the heart… forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” ~ Hannah

47. “More anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.” ~ Mahavira.

48. “The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” ~ Marianne Williamson.

Top Forgiveness Quotes

49. “Forgiveness is not a feeling – it’s a decision we make because we want to do what’s right before God. It’s a quality decision that won’t be easy and it may take time to get through the process, depending on the severity of the offense.” ~ Joyce Meyer

50. “I place an enormous premium on loyalty. If someone betrays me, I can forgive them rationally, but emotionally I have found it impossible to do so.” ~ Richard E. Grant

51. “Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.” ~ Desmond Tutu

52. “The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” ~ Marianne Williamson

53. “Forgiveness is the final form of love.” ~ Reinhold Niebuhr.

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54. “One forgives to the degree that one loves.” ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld

55. “I can forgive but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I cannot forgive.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

56. “Strength of character means the ability to overcome resentment against others, to hide hurt feelings, and to forgive quickly.” ~ Lawrence G. Lovasik.

Inspiring Forgiveness Quotes

57. “The forgiving state of mind is a magnetic power for attracting good.” ~ Catherine Ponder

58. “I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note – torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

59. “The ability to forgive is one of man’s greatest achievements.” ~ Bryant H. McGill

60. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” ~ Lewis B. Smedes

61. “It’s not an easy journey to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place, because it frees you.” ~ Tyler Perry

62. “Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.” ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

63. “It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” ~ Grace Hopper

64. “When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.” ~ Alan Paton

65. “Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.” ~ Oscar Wilde

66. “I invite everyone to choose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal ambition.” ~ Jean-Francois Cope

67. “Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge.” ~ Scott Adams

68. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

69. “Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.” ~ Les Brown

70. “If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.” ~ Mother Teresa

71. “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

72. “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

73. “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.” ~ William Blake.



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Understanding Forgiveness

Forgiveness involves consciously letting go of resentment and anger toward someone who has wronged you.

It doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing the harm but rather releasing the grip it has on you.

This allows you to focus on your own well-being and move forward in life, potentially leading to feelings of understanding, empathy, and compassion for the person who hurt you.

The Power of Letting Go

Holding onto grudges can lead to a multitude of negative emotional and physical health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and even heart disease.

By choosing to forgive, you can improve your mental health and foster healthier relationships, while also enhancing your overall physical health and self-esteem.

The Challenges of Forgiveness

Forgiving is not always easy, especially when deep hurt is involved. Resentment can take root if negative feelings overshadow positive ones, leading to bitterness and a sense of injustice.

However, forgiveness is a skill that can be developed with practice, helping to alleviate these burdens and improve your quality of life.

Steps Toward Forgiveness

Moving toward forgiveness is a proactive process that involves recognizing its value, identifying the harm done, and deciding to forgive.

This journey might include seeking support through counseling or support groups, acknowledging your feelings about the event, and ultimately choosing to let go of the bitterness.

Self-Forgiveness and Its Importance

Self-forgiveness is crucial for personal growth and emotional health.

It involves taking responsibility for one’s actions, understanding the reasons behind them, and working to rectify any harm caused.

This process can be challenging due to deep-seated beliefs about oneself but is essential for moving forward and healing.


Top Questions about Forgiveness

Q: What is the true meaning of forgiveness?

A: Forgiveness involves a deep, personal change in how we feel and respond to those who have wronged us. It’s more than just moving past anger or accepting what happened; it’s about transforming resentment into feelings of compassion and generosity toward the offender.

Q: What causes forgiveness?

A: Forgiveness is often spurred by empathy. When someone is hurt, they are more likely to forgive if they can understand or feel the distress of the person who caused the harm. This empathetic connection is why apologies can be so effective in promoting forgiveness.

Q: Why is it important to forgive?

A: Forgiving is crucial because it allows us to take control of our emotions and actions, rather than being controlled by the hurtful actions of others. It helps us move beyond feeling victimized, fostering emotional resilience and personal growth through increased empathy and understanding.

Q: What is the psychology of forgiveness?

A: From a psychological standpoint, forgiveness is essential for the mental well-being of those who have been wronged. It helps individuals move forward, reducing the emotional grip of past injustices or trauma. Forgiving can improve mood, increase optimism, and protect against anger, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Q: What emotion is forgiveness?

A: Forgiveness is seen as an emotional balance where positive feelings like empathy, sympathy, compassion, and love counteract the negative emotions associated with not forgiving. This balance can lead to emotional healing and reconciliation.

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Chandan Negi
Chandan Negi

I love sharing inspirational quotes and motivational content to inspire and motivate people - #quotes #motivation #internetpillar