120 Forgiveness quotes to inspire you and change your perspective.
Browse this curated list of forgiveness quotes to find the ones that’ll help you get your message across.
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Forgiveness quotes to reframe your mindset.
Forgiveness quotes are many things rolled into one. They can teach you important lessons about life and love. They’re also great for nurturing emotional healing and building positive relationships. Lastly, these quotes offer new ways of thinking about forgiveness, helping you see the bigger picture.
Whether you want to provide guidance or support for personal growth, these quotes serve as thought-provoking reminders. Use them in creative projects to help others realize the value and power of forgiveness.
Forgiveness quotes that teach valuable life lessons.
Forgiveness quotes offer a different perspective. They can also provide comfort, helping you move past hurt and bitterness.
Encourage your audience to reflect on the importance of forgiveness by sharing these quotes online. You can also feature these quotes in creative projects like cards or posters to share with loved ones.
Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful words in the human vocabulary. How much pain and unhappy consequences could be avoided if we all learned the meaning of this word.”
Billy Graham
Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.”
Cheri Carter-Scott
The knowledge of the past stays with us. To let go is to release the images and emotions, the grudges and fears, the clinging and disappointments of the past that bind our spirit.”
Jack Kornfield
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
Forgiveness is a way of opening up the doors again and moving forward, whether it’s a personal life of a national life.”
Hillary Clinton
Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.”
Saint Augustine
Though I was unaware of it at the time, that simple act of forgiveness was the beginning of an entirely new level of experiencing life for me.”
Wayne Dyer
To understand somebody else as a human being, I think, is about as close to real forgiveness as one can get.”
David Small
Quotes about forgiveness to help you start your healing journey.
Talking about forgiveness can sometimes seem like a challenge. Quotes about forgiveness allow you to spark important conversations about this process.
Use Adobe Express to make stunning letters and flyers that spread the message of forgiveness. With beginner-friendly tools and endless customization options, it’s now easier than ever to make meaningful creative projects.
It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
Maya Angelou
The decision to forgive touches you to your very core, to who you are as a human being.”
Robert Enright
Some people would rather die than forgive. It’s a strange truth, but forgiveness is…not something that happens overnight. It’s an evolution of the heart.”
Sue Monk Kidd
Forgiveness can sometimes be difficult. One thing’s for certain though—it takes time. Add this quote to a card or poster to remind you of the nature of forgiveness.
Genuine forgiveness does not deny anger but faces it head-on.”
Alice Miller
Without forgiveness, there’s no future.”
Desmond Tutu
When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.”
Alan Paton
Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”
William Arthur Ward
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.”
Dick Van Dyke
Inspirational forgiveness quotes.
These quotes help you reframe your perspective on what it means to forgive others. They encourage you to let go of grudges and pursue peace instead.
When you need a gentle push in the right direction, look to these quotes for inspiration. Each one highlights the courage and strength it takes to forgive. They also show the positive effect of embracing forgiveness.
Forgiveness does not come easily to us, especially when someone we have trusted betrays our trust. And yet if we don’t learn to forgive, we will discover that we can never really rebuild trust.”
Billy Graham
When you need to be reminded of the power of forgiveness, look to this quote for inspiration. Use it in banners or flyers to serve as constant reminders.
Forgiveness is about empowering yourself, rather than empowering your past.”
T.D. Jakes
When you hold resentment toward another, you are to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve the link and get free.”
Catherine Ponder
It can be hard to forgive and let go but it's important to remember that harboring the resentment and holding a grudge can hurt you even more…”
Jack Canfield
Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment. It is a choice to show mercy, not to hold the offence up against the offender. Forgiveness is an expression of love.”
Gary Chapman
Our errors are grains of sand beside the great mountain of God’s mercy.”
St. John Vianney
The man who opts for revenge should dig two graves.”
Chinese Proverb
All major religious traditions carry basically the same message: that is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”
The 14th Dalai Lama
Love and forgiveness quotes.
Love and forgiveness are intertwined. These quotes remind you of that. They inspire you to take a more compassionate stance when it comes to the people you care about.
Using these quotes in creative projects can help you start your healing journey. They can also serve as tools for rebuilding trust in relationships.
To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”
Robert Muller
There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.”
Bryant H. McGill
Forgiveness and love go hand in hand. Incorporate this quote in letters or photo collages to share timeless wisdom with your loved ones.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Forgiveness is a powerful expression of the love within our soul.”
Anthony Douglas
Add this poignant quote to a poster or flyer to remind others of the connection between love and forgiveness.
Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.”
Roberto Assagioli
Forgiveness is a sign that the person who has wronged you means more to you than the wrong they have dealt.”
Ben Greenhalgh
If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.”
Mother Teresa
Forgiveness is the final form of love.”
Reinhold Niebuhr
This thought-provoking quote is perfect for personalized cards or letters to share with loved ones.
Relationship forgiveness quotes.
Conflicts are a part of every relationship. These forgiveness quotes provide guidance. They allow you to navigate the complexities of relationships and forgiveness.
Use these quotes as a reminder that forgiving is vital for maintaining healthy relationships. Share these with your loved ones through thoughtfully made letters or photo collages.
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.”
Yolanda Hadid
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.”
William Blake
I think we learn the most from imperfect relationships—things like forgiveness and compassion.”
Andrea Thompson
Reconciliation and forgiveness can actually help all of us move on in a healthier, happier way.”
Chesa Boudin
Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”
C.S. Lewis
Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.”
Thomas S. Manson
What’s the point of blaming another person when things don’t go according to plan? It’s much better to forgive instead of drawing things out.
When you forgive, you heal. When you let go, you grow.”
Anonymous
Forgiveness sometimes seems like a challenge, but it’s a necessary first step in moving on and growing. Add this quote to an inspirational poster or banner to serve as a daily reminder of your strength.
Anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.”
Mahavira
Self-forgiveness quotes to nurture self-love.
When you get hurt and hold on to the pain, you’ll likely end up hurting yourself in the long run. Embracing self-forgiveness paves the way for better overall well-being. It also helps you adopt a more positive attitude and form healthier relationships.
When you need to be reminded of the power of self-forgiveness, these quotes offer a lot of valuable insights. Use them in any creative project to help you practice self-forgiveness.
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.”
Jane Fonda
Forgiveness is a two-way street. When forgiving others, you must learn to forgive yourself as well. Use this quote as an inspiration when you want to practice self-forgiveness.
When you haven’t forgiven those who have hurt you, you turn back against your future. When you do forgive, you start walking forward.”
Tyler Perry
He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.”
George Herbert
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
Lewis Smedes
Need a reminder that forgiveness works both ways? This fascinating quote sheds some light on the truth about the act of forgiveness.
Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on.”
Les Brown
It is important that we forgive ourselves for making mistakes. We need to learn from our errors and move on.”
Steve Maraboli , Life, the Truth, and Being Free
How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself.”
Publilius Syrus
To understand is to forgive, even oneself.”
Alexander Chase
Deep forgiveness quotes that will reframe your mindset.
There’s a profound feeling of pain and resentment that comes when you get hurt by someone you love. These forgiveness quotes dive deep into the root causes of these feelings. They encourage introspection and help you understand the nature of forgiveness.
Use Adobe Express to make visually stunning posters and banners featuring these quotes. Share them online or print them to display in your home, office, or classroom.
Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.”
Edwin Hubbel Chapin
Sure, revenge often seems like a good idea, but when you really think about it, will seeking revenge fulfill your soul and make you feel better in the long run?
We are all on a life long journey and the core of its meaning, the terrible demand of its centrality is forgiving and being forgiven.”
Martha Kilpatrick
Forgiveness is above all a personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against natural instinct to pay back evil with evil.”
Pope John Paul II
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
Mark Twain
It is very easy to forgive others their mistake; it takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.”
Jessamyn West
A winner rebukes and forgives; a loser is too timid to rebuke and too petty to forgive.”
Sydney J. Harris
Many promising reconciliations have broken down because while both parties come prepared to forgive, neither party come prepared to be forgiven.”
Charles Williams
Anger ventilated often hurries towards forgiveness; anger concealed often hardens into revenge.”
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Asking for forgiveness quotes.
Seeking forgiveness frees you from guilt and gives you peace of mind. While there’s no guarantee that the other person will forgive you, asking for forgiveness is still worth a try.
When asking for forgiveness, remember not to make any excuses for past transgressions. Get straight to the point and acknowledge your mistake. Then, give the other person enough room to mull over your apology.
It's easier to ask forgiveness than to beg for permission.”
Lora Leigh , Lion’s Heat
When people mess up, we forgive them. When I mess up, I ask for forgiveness.”
Michele Bachmann
Few things accelerate the peace process as much as humbly admitting our own wrongdoing and asking forgiveness.”
Lee Strobel
…You can ask forgiveness of others, but in the end the real forgiveness is in one’s own self.”
Maya Angelou
Every time you ask for forgiveness, you recognize that the biggest problems you face in life exist inside of you, not outside of you.”
Paul David Tripp
There is only one thing harder in this world than forgiving. It’s to ask forgiveness armed only with, ‘I’m sorry.’”
Erma Bombeck
Like the act of forgiving, asking for forgiveness is an act of courage. Add this thought-provoking quote to a nice poster or banner to spark meaningful conversations about forgiveness.
We ask for forgiveness. And we forgive others who ask us. In that way we can experience healing, healing in our souls.”
Ed Dobson
It is right for him who asks forgiveness for his offenses to grant it to others.”
Horace
Family forgiveness quotes.
These quotes focus on the importance of forgiving loved ones. They also remind you that forgiveness helps mend and strengthen your bond.
Encourage family members to let go of their grievances and embrace forgiveness. Use banners or flyers featuring these quotes to help promote a more loving environment at home.
Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love.”
Fred Rogers,
Wisdom from the World According to Mr. Rogers
This insightful quote manages to capture a very human experience—that it is indeed sometimes more difficult to forgive loved ones.
Never forget the nine most important words of any family: I love you. You are beautiful. Please forgive me.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Forgiveness is important in families, especially when there are so many secrets that need to be healed—for the most part, every family’s got them.”
Tyler Perry
By having a forgiving attitude, you can change your life and the lives of the people you care about most.”
Kathie M. Thomson,
Managing the Blended Family
But they’re family, and you forgive them, even if they are the human equivalent of hyenas. Because that’s what you do…Forgive.”
Kristan Higgins
Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.”
Oscar Wilde
No matter how much you love someone—the capacity of that love is meaningless if it outweighs your capacity to forgive.”
Colleen Hoover , All Your Perfects
A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”
Robert Quillen
Famous forgiveness quotes.
When you need timeless wisdom, look to these forgiveness quotes for inspiration. They show you how forgiveness helps nurture freedom and healthier relationships. They can also inspire others to embrace forgiveness to create positive change.
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To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
Alexander Pope , An Essay on Criticism
As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
Nelson Mandela , Long Walk to Freedom
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”
John F. Kennedy
Pray you now, forget and forgive.”
William Shakespeare , King Lear
Mistake are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”
Bruce Lee
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
One should never do wrong in return, nor mistreat any man, no matter how one has been mistreated by him.”
Socrates
The body apologizes to the soul for its errors, and the soul asks forgiveness for squatting in the body without invitation.”
Gregory Maguire
The power of forgiveness quotes.
Forgiveness is powerful in more ways than one. It gives you peace of mind and helps you practice empathy. Plus, it has tons of health benefits too. Forgiveness can lead to less stress and improved heart health. It can do wonders for your self-esteem as well.
Add these quotes to stunning posters or banners to remind others of the power that forgiveness holds. You can also use them in social media posts to share with your audience online.
In one bold stroke, forgiveness obliterates the past and permits us to enter the land of new beginnings.”
Billy Graham
True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’”
Oprah Winfrey
Forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.”
Lewis Smedes
When true forgiveness happens it is one of the most astonishing and liberating of the human experiences.”
Richard Holloway
The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.”
Marianne Williamson
Forgiving isn’t something you do for someone else. It's something you do for yourself…”
Jodi Picoult , The Storyteller
But remember that forgiveness too is a power. To beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest…”
Margaret Atwood , The Handmaid’s Tale
One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed.”
Bernard Baruch
This is some sound advice that will look great on a poster or card. If you want a peaceful life, it’s best to forgive whenever possible. Doing so frees up your heart and soul.
Forgiveness quotes for her.
These quotes offer a heartfelt approach to forgiveness. Aside from that, you can use them to start mending emotional wounds and rebuild relationships.
Design beautiful cards for the important women in your life using Adobe Express. Make expressing your forgiveness more meaningful by adding a thoughtful note at the end.
Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
Corrie ten Boom
As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind.”
Isabelle Holland
Everything is just as it needs to be. And if we would forgive, our minds and hearts would open and we could see another possibility.”
Iyanla Vanzant
Surely it is much more generous to forgive and remember, than to forgive and forget.”
Maria Edgeworth
Take forgiveness slowly. Don't blame yourself for being slow. Peace will come.”
Yoko Ono
Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.”
Marlene Dietrich
When you forgive someone, that’s usually a done deal. It doesn’t make sense to bring up past transgressions. Use this in any creative project as a reminder of what not to do after forgiving someone.
Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend.”
Jewel
Forgiveness is the economy of the heart…forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”
Hannah More
Forgiveness quotes for him.
Forgiveness quotes for him give you a thoughtful way to address or resolve conflicts. They help you sincerely express your feelings and foster healthier reconciliations.
Thoughtful letters can help you express your thoughts on forgiveness more sincerely. Putting your own spin on these quotes also lets you make these creative projects more meaningful.
Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
This quote is a beautiful reminder of what forgiveness is. Add this to a heartfelt letter or card to offer a different perspective on forgiveness.
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Forgiveness is not weak. It takes courage to face and overcome powerful emotions.”
Desmond Tutu
The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.”
John Green , Looking for Alaska
The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.”
Thomas Szasz
I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”
Abraham Lincoln
Sins cannot be undone, only forgiven.”
Igor Stravinsky
Forgiveness is like faith. You have to keep reviving it.”
Mason Cooley
Short forgiveness quotes.
Easy to remember and share, these quotes are powerful tools for promoting forgiveness. Use these quotes as daily reminders of the importance of letting go and forgiving others.
Because they’re short, these quotes are perfect for inspirational social media posts or custom cards. To convey your message more effectively, consider adding a note or even a heartfelt letter.
Life is an adventure in forgiveness.”
Norman Cousins
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.”
Josh Billings
Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.”
Hannah Arendt
Forgiveness is the cornerstone of healing.”
Sylvia Fraser
Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.”
George MacDonald
A heart filled with anger has no room for love.”
Joan Lunden,
Wake-Up Calls: Making the Most Out of Every Day
When you are happy you can forgive a great deal.”
Princess Diana
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”
Francis of Assisi
Funny forgiveness quotes.
Humor is a powerful tool. It can ease tensions and make it easier for you to forgive others. They’re great for when you want to show your audience that forgives doesn’t always have to be serious.
Add a touch of humor and lighten the mood with the help of these quotes. Pick your favorites and add them to cute cards. Complete the look by adding adorable illustrations that will brighten the recipient’s day.
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
Oscar Wilde
One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.”
Rita Mae Brown
Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.”
Anne Lamott,
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge.”
Scott Adams
It’s far easier to forgive an enemy after you’ve got even with him.”
Olin Miller
It’s said in Hollywood that you should always forgive your enemies—because you never know when you’ll have to work with them.”
Lana Turner
A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable, and always unacceptable.”
Robert Fripp
If I owe Smith ten dollars and God forgives me, that doesn’t pay Smith.”
Robert Green Ingersoll
Tips on how to make the most out of forgiveness quotes.
Forgiveness quotes help enrich your daily life. Here are some ways to make your favorites count.
- Find quotes that resonate with you. Not every forgiveness quote will apply to your situation. Go for ones that align with your goals or are relevant to the situation you’re in.
- As inspirational décor. Whether it’s a simple card or a dynamic poster, these quotes lend themselves well to a number of creative projects. Personalize each one by adding a handwritten note or custom illustration. They’re also great as digital wallpapers or social media posts.
- Use them as writing prompts. Having trouble getting over your writer’s block? Why not use these forgiveness quotes as writing prompts? You can also use these quotes to encourage thoughtful discussions in the classroom or office.
- Pay attention to sources. Today, it’s easier than ever to find forgiveness quotes online. The thing is, some of them are often misattributed to other people. Consider looking up credible websites or cross-checking information to ensure that you’re attributing the quote to the right source. Quote Investigator is a good place to start your research.
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