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Forgive Quotes

Sayings on grace, grudges, and letting go.

These quotes explore the uneven nature of forgiveness, how forgiving a stranger can come more easily than forgiving someone close, like a friend, and how some describe themselves as naturally quick to let things go. See our Forgiveness quotes.

It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.

Quotes by William Blake

Forgive me for not writing but this man is exhausting.

Quotes by Wallis Simpson

I have published a proclamation: 'Forgive us our transgressions as we forgive those who transgress against us.' I have ordered all citizens to return to their parishes to enjoy the benefits of this general amnesty.

Quotes by Toussaint Louverture

I'm very forgiving so I forgive most things, really.

Quotes by Tory Burch

Forgive Me Quotes

You can forgive somebody and still believe they need a consequence.

Quotes by Taya Kyle

I didn't know if I would ever reconcile with my family, and I needed to believe that I could forgive, regardless.

Quotes by Tara Westover

We develop our propensity to forgive or not to forgive by what we see illustrated at the early ages of our development.

Quotes by T. D. Jakes

When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.

Quotes by T. D. Jakes

A winner rebukes and forgives; a loser is too timid to rebuke and too petty to forgive.

Quotes by Sydney J. Harris

Forgiven Quotes

I think I am a living example of Modi's capacity to forgive.

Quotes by Smriti Irani

Can you really forgive if you can't forget?

Quotes by Sarah Jessica Parker

I pray for my enemies, that God would forgive them.

Quotes by Ruby Bridges

In times of tumult, voters are likely to forgive a president, if not reward him, for compromises made in service of solutions.

Quotes by Ron Fournier

Those who easily forgive invite offenses.

Quotes by Pierre Corneille

Forgiveness Quotes

I forgive 'Face in the Crowd' its uneven tone because it's precisely what makes it feel unlike other Kazan movies.

Quotes by Peyton Reed

Forgive me, but Wolfmother, you suck!

Quotes by Mike Patton

To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty.

Quotes by Maximilien Robespierre

To confer dignity, forgive. To express contempt, forget.

Quotes by Mason Cooley

The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.

Quotes by Marquis de Sade

Forgiving Quotes

Surely it is much more generous to forgive and remember, than to forgive and forget.

Quotes by Maria Edgeworth

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main idea behind these forgive quotes?
They explore how forgiveness works in practice, noting that it can be harder to forgive people close to us than strangers, and that some people naturally let things go more easily than others.
Why is it harder to forgive a friend than an enemy?
One quote suggests that betrayal feels more personal when it comes from someone we trust, which makes forgiving a friend a deeper emotional task than forgiving someone we never expected much from.
Do any quotes reference forgiveness in a historical or ceremonial sense?
Yes, one echoes the language of a formal pardon, asking citizens to return home and share in the benefits of a broader act of official forgiveness.
Is forgiveness always easy for the people quoted here?
Not always, while a few describe themselves as generally forgiving, the quotes as a whole acknowledge that forgiveness can take real effort, especially with people close to us.
Where can I read more about the idea of forgiveness itself?
Visit our Forgiveness quotes page for sayings focused more directly on the concept as a whole.

For related ideas, browse our Forgiving quotes or our Forgiven quotes on being on the receiving end of grace.