Forgiveness Quotes: Uplifting Words for a Compassionate Heart

Forgiveness is a powerful tool that can bring freedom and happiness to your life. It takes courage and acceptance to let go of past hurts, but when you do, you open yourself up to the possibility of experiencing love, joy, and peace. Forgiveness is a choice, and one that can transform your relationships and overall well-being.

To inspire and motivate you on your journey towards forgiveness, we have gathered some touching and profound forgiveness quotes. These thought-provoking words of wisdom will remind you of the power of forgiveness, the necessity of letting go, and the freedom that comes with making the choice to forgive.

As you read through these forgiveness quotes, take a moment to reflect on the impact they have on your personal experiences, emotions, and relationships. May these quotes serve as a guide towards finding the strength to forgive yourself and others, and ultimately lead you towards a life filled with greater peace, love, and happiness.

Quote List 1 – 25

We’ve gathered a list of inspirational forgiveness quotes for you. As you read these quotes, consider how they relate to your own experiences with mercy, tolerance, hurt, and relationships. Some of these quotes are from notable figures such as Oprah, Desmond Tutu, Oscar Wilde, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Maya Angelou, Lewis B. Smed, Mark Twain, and Jodi Picoult.

1. Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress.
2. Not everyone who is hurt deserves to be a victim.
3. In every relationship, forgiveness is a key to success.
4. Oprah once said, “True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’
5. Desmond Tutu: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
6. Oscar Wilde: “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
7. Mahatma Gandhi: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.”
8. Mother Teresa: “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.”
9. Maya Angelou: “It is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
10. Lewis B. Smed: “Forgiveness is choosing to love. It is the first skill of self-giving love.”
11. Tolerance makes it possible to accept others even when they differ from us.
12. Mark Twain: “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
13. Jodi Picoult: “When you begin a journey of revenge, start by digging two graves: one for your enemy, and one for yourself.”
14. To let go of the past, forgiveness is the key.
15. When someone hurts you, extending mercy is an act of understanding.
16. Forgiving others is about freeing yourself from the pain they’ve caused you.
17. In a relationship, forgiveness is as essential as love itself.
18. Victims can feel empowered when they choose to forgive.
19. You can only truly move forward when you let go of past hurts.
20. To have resilience is to accept that everyone makes mistakes, including ourselves.
21. The act of forgiving allows you to grow from difficult experiences.
22. At times, forgiveness is the most significant gift you can offer someone.
23. In the face of adversity, choose forgiveness as a form of self-care.
24. When someone you love has hurt you, forgiveness can help repair the bond.
25. Finding peace within yourself is often achieved through the practice of forgiveness.

Take the time to reflect on these quotes and think about how they apply to your life. Remember, embracing forgiveness can have a profound impact not only on your relationships but also on your emotional wellbeing.

Quote List 26 – 50

In this section, we present a collection of 25 inspiring forgiveness quotes. These quotes will help you find the strength to let go of the past, find inner peace, and move on.

26. “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

27. “True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.'” – Oprah Winfrey

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

29. “Forgiving doesn’t make the person who hurt you feel better, it makes you feel better.” – Cherie Carter-Scott

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

31. “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive.” – Oprah Winfrey

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

33. “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” – Mother Teresa

34. “Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.” – Hannah Arendt

35. “Forgiveness is an act of self-love and respect.” – Don Miguel Ruiz

36. “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” – C.S. Lewis

37. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

38. “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis

39. “Forgive your family, love them, work together, and learn the lessons you were meant to learn.” – Wayne Dyer

40. “Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi

41. “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” – Josh Billings

42. “Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.” – Roberto Assagioli

43. Humility is the path to forgiveness, as it allows us to recognize our own faults and understand others’ struggles.

44. “Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a conscious choice to let go of the bitterness that may hold you back in life.” – Desmond Tutu

45. Reconciliation can be a powerful motivation for forgiveness, as it restores the harmony in relationships that have been affected by past mistakes.

46. Finding the inspiration and will to forgive is a personal journey for each individual, and it is important to share our experiences and support one another.

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

48. Holding on to bitterness only complicates life even more, so giving ourselves permission to be released from the past through forgiveness is a path to a better future.

49. Embrace the strength required to forgive, allowing it to heal your emotional wounds and create a foundation for inner peace.

50. “Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend.” – Jewel

Quote List 51 – 75

In this section, you’ll find quotes 51 through 75, with some of your favorite personalities imparting their wisdom on the subject of forgiveness. Let’s dive in!

51. I am not teaching you anything. I just help you to explore yourself – Bruce Lee

52. To err is human; to forgive, divine – Alexander Pope

53. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred – Corrie ten Boom

54. Let the past drift away with the water – Robert Jordan

55. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you – C.S. Lewis

56. An eye for an eye, and the whole world would be blind – Kahlil Gibran

57. How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself – Publilius Syrus

58. You don’t have to suffer to be a poet; adolescence is enough suffering for anyone – John Ciardi

59. Action is the antidote to despair – Joan Baez

60. 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

61. 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 cannot move forward – Steve Maraboli

62. Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave – Indira Gandhi

63. One of the most courageous decisions you’ll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul – Brigitte Nicole

64. In the garden of memory, in the palace of dreams…that is where you and I will meet – Jewel

65. The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world – Marianne Williamson

66. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you – Lewis B. Smedes

67. Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude – Martin Luther King Jr.

68. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong – Mahatma Gandhi

69. Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die – Carrie Fisher

70. Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die – Anne Lamott

71. He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has the need to be forgiven – Thomas Fuller

72. Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much – Oscar Wilde

73. Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head – Ann Landers

74. Without forgiveness, there’s no future – Desmond Tutu

75. By forgiving and choosing to move forward, you don’t deny pain or suffering. You acknowledge it and release the power it has over your life – Author Unknown

There you have it! Enjoy these powerful quotes on forgiveness and remember, holding a grudge does more harm to you than to the person you’re holding it against. In the wise words of Roberto Assagioli: Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.

Can Empathy and Forgiveness go Hand in Hand?

Empathy and forgiveness can indeed go hand in hand. Embracing empathy allows us to understand others’ struggles and find it easier to forgive. As empathy quotes for kinder world remind us, forgiveness often stems from understanding and compassion. When we empathize, forgiveness becomes a natural and powerful response.

Quote List 76 – 100

Here are some inspiring forgiveness quotes that will help you on your journey towards healing and self-improvement:

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

In this section, you’ll find quotes from renowned individuals such as Robin Sharma, Jessica Lange, Jane Austen, Josh Billings, and the Dalai Lama, touching upon concepts like success, pride, trust, understanding, darkness, openness, grudges, and more.

77. Robin Sharma once said, “Forgiveness isn’t just a blessing you deliver to another human being. Forgiveness is also a gift you give yourself.”

78. Jessica Lange reminds us, “Acceptance and tolerance and forgiveness, those are life-altering lessons.”

79. “There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.” – Jane Austen

80. Josh Billings points out, “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.”

81. On the topic of success, Robin Sharma observes, “The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.”

82. Jessica Lange speaks of pride, saying, “Pride is your greatest enemy; humility is your greatest friend.”

83. “The more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become.” – Jane Austen

84. According to Josh Billings, “To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.”

85. In discussing understanding, the Dalai Lama remarks, “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

86. “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

87. On the importance of openness, Yoko Ono suggests, “To understand everything is to forgive everything.”

88. Jane Austen addresses grudges, stating, “Angry people are not always wise.”

89. “As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind.” – Isabelle Holland

90. Yoko Ono emphasizes that, “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”

Lastly, in examining the power of forgiveness, Bell Hooks asserts, “Forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?”