56+ Meaningful Forgiveness Quotes | Global Forgiveness Day

There are hundreds of quotes, taglines and sayings available on Forgiveness online. I have shortlisted few good quotes and sayings to save your time and energy. Here they are!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see the Disclaimer to learn more.

Popular Quotes On Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the fragrance that flowers give when they are crushed.
It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. – William Blake
Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.
“Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge.” – Isaac Friedmann
Forgiving someone is easy, but being able to trust them again is a totally different story.
Everyone makes mistakes. If you can’t forgive others, don’t expect others to forgive you.
“True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” – Anne Lamott
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
“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

Who Can Forgive?

“Before we can forgive one another, we have to understand one another.” – Emma Goldman
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Weak people revenge, strong people forgive, intelligent people ignore.
It takes a strong person to say sorry, and an even stronger person to forgive.
I don’t forgive people because I’m weak. I forgive them because I’m strong enough to know people make mistakes.
Forgive someone if he is genuinely sorry or else be prepared for the history to repeat itself.

Forgiving Yourself

“It is important that we forgive ourselves for making mistakes. We need to learn from our errors and move on.” – Steve Maraboli
“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

Quotes on Positive Effects Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness does not make the other person right. It makes you free.
“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.” – William Arthur Ward
“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” – Paul Boese
Forgive, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.
“Forgiving is rediscovering the shining path of peace that at first you thought others took away when they betrayed you.” – Dodinsky
“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
“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
“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

Forgive and Forget

“What is forgiven is usually well remembered.” – Louis Dudek
The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest, and the first to forget is the happiest.
Forgive and forget. It may not change the past, but it gives the future a chance.
“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” – Thomas Szasz
Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.
Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you.
“Always forgive, but never forget, else you will be a prisoner of your own hatred, and doomed to repeat your mistakes forever.” – Wil Zeus
Do not let the shadows of your past darken the doorstep of your future. Forgive and Forget.
Always forgive, but never forget. Learn from your mistakes, but never regret.
Forget your past, forgive yourself and begin again.
I forgive, but never forget because I never want to be hurt the same way twice.
“Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” – John F. Kennedy
Never forget 3 types of people in your life. Those who helped you in your difficult times, those who left you in your difficult times, and those who put you in your difficult times.

Asking For Forgiveness

Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them. – Bruce Lee
“I have learned that sometimes “sorry” is not enough. Sometimes you actually have to change.” – Claire London
Apologizing does not always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.

Rules To Follow After Forgiving Someone

“Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.” – Marlene Dietrich
“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
“Sincere forgiveness isn’t coloured with expectations that the other person apologizes or change. Don’t worry whether they finally understand you or not. Love them and release them.” – Sara Paddison
“Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive.” – Wm. Paul Young
“Forgiveness means it finally becomes unimportant that you hit back. You’re done. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to have lunch with the person. If you keep hitting back, you stay trapped in the nightmare.” – Anne Lamott

Funny Quotes On Forgiveness

Sometimes the first step to forgiveness is realizing that the other person is completely stupid.
Sometimes you have to forgive and forget, forgive them for hurting you, and forget they even exist.
My plan is to forgive and forget. Forgive myself for being stupid and forget you ever even existed.
Forgive and forget? I’m neither God nor do I have Alzheimer’s.
I forgive you, but I still think it’s your fault.
I would have asked God for a bike, but I know that he doesn’t work that way. So, I’m going to steal one and ask for forgiveness!
Forgiving you means I no longer dwell on what a giant jerk you are. It doesn’t mean you are no longer a jerk.

Forgiveness Messages For Your Dear Ones

“Dearest ____, I am ready to forgive you for all your mistakes provided you promise me that you are not going to repeat them at all.”
“My dear ____, I would be happy to forgive you, but I will be happier to know that you don’t do anything stupid that you have to ask for forgiveness.”
“To my dearest ____, I wish you are always able to forgive all my mistakes and make our lives easier and happier.”
“I know you have been very kind in forgiving me many a times, but I promise that I will never put you in such difficult situation again.”

Hello!

Thanks for reading. Hope you liked my collection. Do you have any suggestions, experiences or innovative ideas to share? They would be super helpful!

If you see anything that needs to be removed / updated or added, please feel free to drop your comments below. I read every single one, and I’d love to know!