Forgiveness is not always easy, especially when the one who has hurt us is ourselves or someone very close and important to us. However, learning to forgive is essential because forgiveness has the power to heal deep emotional wounds, restore broken relationships, and free us from the weight of resentment. Though forgiving can be difficult, it is a crucial step toward personal peace and growth. If we do not forgive and instead allow anger and pain to take hold of our hearts, we will only prolong our suffering. Forgiveness not only brings happiness and relief but also opens the door to love, healing, and new beginnings.
True forgiveness does not mean forgetting the harm caused by ourselves or others; rather, it is about releasing negative thoughts and emotions while embracing compassion. This journey requires strength, patience, and a willingness to let go of past hurts. Whether we seek forgiveness or offer it to others, it fosters empathy, understanding, and emotional well-being.
To inspire and encourage you on this path, here’s a list of 50 forgiveness quotes for yourself and others—covering love, healing, and personal growth. These words of wisdom, from various well-known individuals, remind us that forgiveness is not just a gift to others but also a gift to ourselves. Be sure to share this with your family and friends so they too can be inspired to always forgive, let go of past hurts, and embrace a life filled with peace, love, and healing.
50 Greatest Quotes About Forgiveness for Yourself & Others
10 Inspirational Quotes on Forgiveness
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” — Lewis B. Smedes
“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” — Paul Boese
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” — Buddha
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.” — Hannah Arendt
“When you forgive, you heal. When you let go, you grow.”
“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.” — Oprah Winfrey
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” — Mark Twain
“Letting go of resentment is like removing a heavy chain from around your heart.”
10 Forgiveness in Love & Relationships Quotes
“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” — Ruth Bell Graham
“Love is an act of endless forgiveness.” — Peter Ustinov
“Forgiveness does not mean ignoring the offense. It means choosing love over resentment.”
“You can’t truly love someone without learning to forgive them.”
“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” — Reinhold Niebuhr
“In any relationship, the one who apologizes first is the bravest, the one who forgives is the strongest, and the one who forgets is the happiest.”
“Forgiving you wasn’t easy, but loving you was worth it.”
“Sometimes we have to forgive, not because they deserve it, but because we deserve peace.”
“True love is about growing together, not holding onto past mistakes.”
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s letting go of the hurt.”
10 Faith & Spiritual Forgiveness Quotes
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32
“Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.” — Suzanne Somers
“God’s forgiveness is bigger than any mistake you’ve made.”
“To err is human, to forgive divine.” — Alexander Pope
“Forgiveness is a reflection of God’s love in your heart.”
“Forgive others, not because they deserve it, but because God forgave you.”
“Let us forgive each other—only then will we live in peace.” — Leo Tolstoy
“There is no love without forgiveness, and no forgiveness without love.” — Bryant H. McGill
“Grace means that all of your mistakes now serve a purpose instead of shame.”
“When you choose to forgive, you choose to be free.”
10 Self-Forgiveness & Personal Growth Quotes
“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”
“You deserve the same forgiveness you so easily give to others.”
“Forgive yourself for the mistakes you made when you were just trying to survive.”
“Forgiving yourself is as important as forgiving others.”
“Stop beating yourself up over past mistakes. You are growing, learning, and evolving.”
“Let go of the past so you can create a better future for yourself.”
“Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is yourself.”
“Healing begins the moment you forgive yourself.”
“Self-forgiveness is a form of self-love.”
“You are not your past mistakes. Forgive yourself and move forward.”
10 Quotes About Struggling to Forgive
“Some wounds run too deep for forgiveness to reach.”
“Forgiving is hard when the scars still ache.”
“Not everyone deserves a second chance—some betrayals cut too deep.”
“I want to forgive, but my heart won’t let me forget.”
“Some apologies come too late to matter.”
“Forgiveness feels impossible when the trust is shattered beyond repair.”
“You can’t force forgiveness when the pain is still fresh.”
“Letting go is easy to say, but impossible to do when the betrayal still lingers.”
“I can move on without forgiving—I just choose to remember.”
“Some things don’t deserve forgiveness, only distance.”
Related Articles:
- 23 Best Bible Verses On Forgiveness
- 50 Uplifting Quotes About Getting Over Heartbreak
- 75 Quotes About the Struggles of Motherhood & Trying to Be A Good Mom
Final Thoughts On These Forgiveness Quotes
Forgiveness is a powerful act that leads to healing, peace, and stronger relationships. We hope that after reading these quotes about forgiveness, you feel more determined to let go of past hurts and embrace a brighter future. Holding onto resentment only weighs us down, while forgiveness frees us and allows love to flourish.
Always remember that imperfections and mistakes are a natural part of life. We should not let them damage our relationships with ourselves or others. Forgiveness is the key to a happy, peaceful, and fulfilling life. Although it must be difficult, we must train ourselves daily to forgive because no one is perfect—we all make mistakes, even when we don’t intend to.
By choosing to forgive, we cultivate understanding, empathy, and inner peace, creating a world filled with kindness and love. The quotes above serve as perfect personal reminders and are also great for sharing on social media to inspire others about the importance of forgiveness. When we forgive, we allow ourselves to grow, heal, and strengthen our relationships. Most importantly, our Father in heaven is pleased when we choose to forgive, as we are following His example—the greatest example of forgiveness.
Kayla is the content creator over at motviationformom.com. She is a wife and mother who loves to share all of the tips, tricks, and life lessons that she has learned over the years with all of her readers. Her primary focus is on children’s education, motherhood, and healthy family relationships!