Forgiveness is a somewhat complicated task, both for the one who offers them and for the one who accepts them. In this process, it may be helpful to reflect on some phrases of forgiveness pronounced or written by important thinkers and authors .
Phrases of forgiveness for peace
In this publication you will find a selection of phrases of forgiveness that will invite you to make a reflection on this reality of personal relationships.
1. Men who do not forgive women their little defects will never enjoy their great virtues (Khalil Gibran)
Gibran, in a phrase from his time, invites us not to focus all our attention on those acts that produce disappointment, including bad decisions or the desire to hurt.
Only those truly courageous spirits know how to forgive. A vile being never forgives because it is not in his nature (Laurence Sterne)
One of the phrases about forgiveness of moral character.
3. Always forgive your enemy. There is nothing that makes you more angry (Oscar Wilde)
An action that denotes superiority.
4. “I can forgive, but I can’t forget,” is just another way of saying, “I can’t, I’m sorry” (Henry Ward Beecher)
For Beecher, forgiveness consisted of completely forgetting the offense committed.
5. Forgiving too much to the one who is wrong is doing injustice to the one who is not wrong (Baldassare Castiglione)
Asking for forgiveness should be avoided as it can lead to recidivism and harm to others.
6. To forgive is not to take too much into account the limitations and defects of the other, not to take them too seriously, but to take them out of importance, with good humor, saying: I know you are not like that! (Robert Spaemann)
About forgiveness that nullifies the intention with which the offense was committed.
7. Forgiving while loving (François de La Rochefoucauld)
Love makes us tolerant of certain offenses.
8. Forgiveness is only learned in life when we have needed to be forgiven a lot (Jacinto Benavente)
When we relate that need to our experiences.
9. Write the wrongs in the dust, the words of good write them in the marble (Benjamin Franklin )
About what should transcend our ations.
10. Let us teach to forgive; but let us also teach not to offend. It would be more efficient (José Ingenieros)
This Engineers’ forgiveness phrase wisely addresses this issue.
11. We easily forgive our friends the defects in which nothing affects us (François de La Rochefoucauld)
Seen from this reflection, it is easy to forgive.
12. Man grows when he kneels (Alessandro Manzoni )
The act of asking for forgiveness comes from a process where the human being recognizes his mistakes and the damage he caused to others, assuming his responsibility to commit them again.
13. In the absence of forgiveness, let forgetfulness come (Alfred de Musset)
In some situations turning the page is an option.
14. It is easier to forgive an enemy than a friend (William Blake)
Since the difference between them is loyalty and trust
15. To conquer and to forgive is to conquer twice (Pedro Calderón de la Barca)
And the act of forgiveness is more powerful between the two.
16. The weak cannot forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong (Mahatma Gandhi)
…since it requires putting aside prejudice and unhealthy pride.
17. What I hate most is having people ask for my forgiveness before they step on me (Woody Allen)
Probably for the actor it’s an inconsiderate attitude.
18. Never hesitate to reach out; never hesitate to accept the hand that another holds out to you (John XXIII)
…as it represents acceptance of an act of humility and benevolence.
19. He who forgives easily invites the offense (Pierre Corneille)
When forgiveness becomes superficial and automatic.
20. What certain men find most difficult to forgive a woman is to take comfort in having been mocked by them (Paul Charles Bourget)
In this sentence of forgiveness, the writing is a reflection of the macho society of the time.
21. Always forgive others, never yourself (Publius Siro)
Since your mistakes are part of your growth.
22. To grant forgiveness is the highest degree of vanity or fear (José Luis Coll )
This phrase is born from the perspective of the actor in relation to the attitude that accompanies the act of accepting forgiveness .
23. A mother’s heart is a deep abyss at the bottom of which there is always forgiveness (Honore de Balzac)
On maternal love that incurs to accept the apologies of its children.
24. If an apology is followed by an excuse or a reason, it means that they will make the same mistake again for which they have apologized (Amit Kalantri)
If the action is still justified, the act of apologizing is not honest.
25. We never forgive more than those we have an interest in forgiving (Jules Renard)
Those who represent a significant presence in our lives and in the face of error.
26. Forget and forgive. It’s not difficult if you understand. It means forgiving inconveniences, and forgiving you for forgetting. With a lot of practice and determination, it will be easier (Mark Twain)
Advice from this long-winded writer who approaches forgiveness with respect for ourselves.
27. When you say the word ‘sorry’, make sure you understand that an apology has 3 parts. “I’m sorry,” “It’s my fault and I won’t do it again,” and “How can I make things better? The last part is the most important (Manasa Rao Saarloos)
This sentence of forgiveness contains a lot of wisdom , since it deals with the intention of how to solve the effect of our bad action.
28. To say ‘sorry’ is to say ‘I love you’ with a wounded heart in one hand and your pride suffocated in the other (Richelle E. Goodrich)
This writer manages to describe the act of asking for forgiveness by emphasizing the process.
29. When you forgive, you free your soul. But when you say, “I’m sorry,” you free two souls (Donald L. Hicks)
It is important that the other person knows how you really feel, not only because it is important to acknowledge the fault, but also to bring about reconciliation.
30. Forgiveness is not always easy. Sometimes, forgiving the one who caused it feels more painful than the injury that was suffered. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness (Marianne Williamson)
Forgiveness as the only way to peace and tranquility.
31. Apologizing doesn’t always mean you’re wrong. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego (Mark Matthews)
Many times apologies don’t have an honest cause.
32. Admitting a mistake is not a weakness; on the contrary, it shows an opening of your heart. It takes guts to say sorry. Only a strong, balanced individual with clarity of mind can do this effortlessly. Taking responsibility for your actions requires and develops your self-control. You become your own person (Vishwas Chavan)
When apologizing is a reflection of a great personality.
33. Saying ‘I’m sorry’ won’t fix what’s broken. It can’t reverse time or undo the damage or change anything that happened. But a sincere, humble apology can soften the sting and sometimes do a good job of repairing it.
Not only does asking for forgiveness count, but also repairing the relationship that has been affected with the other .
34. Apologizing is different from begging, it doesn’t change your status, so go ahead and get down on your knees, shed tears if you have them for the person you offended, if you have a place in their hearts, you will be totally forgiven and accepted (Michael Bassey Johnso)
This sentence of forgiveness invites us to assume our mistakes with humility and to offer forgiveness when necessary.
35. A truly humble apology serves to separate the storm clouds, calm the rough seas, and attract the soft lights of dawn; it has the power to change a person’s world (Richelle E. Goodrich)
About the power of forgiveness and how to promote peace.
36. Sometimes, an apology releases a part of you that you didn’t even know was in a cage… and forgiveness destroys that cage (Sanjo Jendayi)
A nice analogy to approach the power that produces this feeling.
37. Never ruin an apology with an excuse (Benjamin Franklin)
This sentence tells us that we should not justify our wrong actions .
38. Apologies are not meant to change the past, they are meant to change the future (Kevin Hancock)
And ensure a proper relationship with each other.
39. Never put off repairing a relationship you value. If you need to say ‘I’m sorry’, say it now. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us (Toni Sorenson)
It is one of the expressions of respect and appreciation for preserving important relationships.
40. Forgiveness is the fragrance that pours the violet on the heel that crushed it (Mark Twain)
Beautiful sentence of forgiveness by Twain, in which it is clear that accepting the apology also frees us.
41. An apology is the glue of life! It can repair almost anything! (Lynn Johnston)
As long as it comes from deep and honest reflection.
42. Apologize! It’s the least you can do to try to correct something you have wronged (Samhita Baruah)
When it’s an unavoidable responsibility.
43. Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling, because when we forgive we no longer feel the offense, we no longer feel rancor. Forgive, for in forgiving you will have peace of mind and the one who offended you will have it (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
A perspective that considers the point of view of the person who offended the other .
44. In any relationship, the frequent use of two words is very important. They can change the course of destiny. These words are: Thank you and sorry (Girdhar Joshi)
Powerful words that we must use often.
45. The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you can’t move on (Steve Maraboli)
To forgive is to let go.
46. An apology is not about saying you’re sorry, but about the meaning you put behind the apology and admitting that you’re the wrong party (Unarine Ramaru)
This phrase of forgiveness makes us reflect on the process that forgiveness entails.
47. When the wound is deep. The action to rectify it must come from the heart, because the word ‘forgiveness’ is not enough to sew up such a deep cut (Trishna Damodar)
An attitude of change can restore the confidence of the other.
48. An apology can be a wonderful thing as long as it is not frequent and comes from the heart. However, beware of people who justify bad behavior with apologies. For them it is a means to an end (Gary Hopkins)
About the superficial apologies.
49. A life lived without forgiveness is a prison (William Arthur Ward)
A prison of guilt and fear.
50. That’s life. Sometimes we don’t even want to know how much pain we cause others, for fear of spoiling our little pleasures. And when the time comes to face the consequences, it’s too late to feel sorry (Menelaos Stephanides)
Sometimes the loser is late and no longer needed.
51. Apologies require taking full responsibility. There are no half-truths, no partial admissions, no rationalizations, no pointers or justifications in any apology (Cathy Burnham)
Reflection must be total and honest.
52. Forgiveness must be immediate, whether a person asks for it or not. Trust must be rebuilt over time. Trust requires a history (Rick Warren)
We must be patient and wait until the person we offended can accept our apology.
53. I’m not very good at saying sorry, but I apologize (Chris Kurtz)
There is no need to say the right words, just to say it with the heart.
54. We do not forgive people because they deserve it. We forgive them because they need it (Bree Despain)
Because affection for them makes us empathize with their repentance .
55. Be the hero of hearts; learn to say I’m sorry (Richelle E. Goodrich)
Rescue the people from that unpleasant time your mistakes caused.
56. A friendship broken and repaired through forgiveness can be even stronger than it was (Stephen Richards)
For the act of forgiving strengthens both the one who forgives and the one who asks for forgiveness.
57. A sincere and warmly expressed apology can produce the same effects as morphine on a suffering soul (Richelle E. Goodrich)
When your words are a caress to the soul.
58. Nothing frees as much as forgiveness. Nothing renews as much as forgetting (Ray A. Davis)
About that sweet, refreshing feeling that resembles freedom.
59. The state of mind of one who is able to forgive is a magnetic power to attract good (Catherine Ponder)
People who are able to forgive inspire good things.
60. The problem with saying or feeling sorry is that it often comes after the damage is already done (Asma Naqi)
It’s one of the things we always face and we don’t know how to fix it.
61. Forgiveness is the economy of the heart, forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits (Hannah More)
It protects us from negative emotional consequences.
62. An apology given only to appease one’s conscience is selfish and better left unsaid! (Evinda Lepins)
Forgiveness always has to come with the other person in mind.
63. You think you couldn’t live with the pain. Such pain cannot be lived with. You can only endure it. I’m sorry (Erin Morgenstern)
And that pain dries up our spirits.
64. Futility is lamenting without doing anything to remove the cause (John Geddes)
One of those phrases about forgiveness in which establishes a metaphor to express the idea in a very visual way .
65. Defeat anger, stop using it as a shield against truth, and you will find the compassion you need to forgive the people you love (Glenn Beck)
Forgiveness is not only an act of repentance but also an act of love.
66. Yes, dear father. But has it never crossed your mind that, by controlling your feelings, you destroy them? How many times can we say “I’m sorry” until we are no longer able to regret anything? (John le Carré)
When we become desensitized to all the times we’ve asked for forgiveness in a superficial way.
67. Who cares who is right or who is wrong when the last word is a kind apology? (Richelle E. Goodrich)
When the power of forgiveness has shown its effect.
68. Learning to forgive can be the most difficult of human acts, and the closest thing to divinity (Justin Cronin)
Being able to be at peace with another person is a quality that is very divine.
69. It is amazing how many wounds can be healed with these two words: I am sorry (Matshona Dhliwayo)
And we should think about it more to free him.
70. Never think you are so good or important, so right or proud, that you cannot kneel at the feet of someone you hurt and offer them a sincere and humble apology (Richelle E. Goodrich)
About the extinction of pride that won’t allow you to free yourself and show your best side.