Everyone struggles with pain caused by others, but finding the strength to forgive can bring real peace. Our collection of the best forgiveness quotes offers wisdom and encouragement to help you let go of hurt and move forward. Whether you’re seeking comfort, motivation to mend a broken relationship, or simply hoping to lighten your heart, these best forgiveness quotes will inspire you to embrace understanding over resentment. Read on and discover powerful words from thinkers, leaders, and everyday people who know the true power of forgiving.
Understanding Forgiveness
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
— Alexander Pope
“Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.”
— Desmond Tutu
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
— Mark Twain
“Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.”
— Roberto Assagioli
“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”
— Paul Boese
“Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.”
— Anonymous
“Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner.”
— Max Lucado
“It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
— Maya Angelou
Letting Go of Hurt
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
— Buddha
“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
“Resentment is like resuming to take poison hoping someone else will die.”
— Anonymous
“You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.”
— Lewis B. Smedes
“Let go of the hurt. Forgive for your own peace.”
— Anonymous
“When you forgive, you heal. When you let go, you grow.”
— Anonymous
“Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.”
— Nelson Mandela
“The act of forgiveness takes place in our own mind. It really has nothing to do with the other person.”
— Louise Hay
“Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.”
— Anonymous
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
— Lewis B. Smedes
Growth & Healing
“Only the brave know how to forgive. A coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.”
— Laurence Sterne
“Sometimes the first step to forgiveness is realizing the other person was born just as human as you.”
— Anonymous
“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”
— William Arthur Ward
“Healing comes when we choose to walk away from darkness and move towards a brighter light.”
— Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”
— Pema Chödrön
“When we forgive, we set ourselves free from the burdens of the past.”
— Anonymous
“Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.”
— Indira Gandhi
“To heal a wound you need to stop touching it.”
— Anonymous
“We don’t heal in isolation, but in community.”
— S. Kelley Harrell
“True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.'”
— Oprah Winfrey
✨ Wisdom & Inspiration
“Forgive, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.”
— Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“Forgive others as quickly as you expect God to forgive you.”
— Anonymous
“Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you are.”
— Cherie Carter-Scott
“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.”
— Bryant H. McGill
“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”
— Bruce Lee
“You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality.”
— Maya Angelou
“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.”
— Marianne Williamson
“Forgiveness is the final form of love.”
— Reinhold Niebuhr
“Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.”
— Suzanne Somers
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
— Oscar Wilde
️ Peace & Moving Forward
“Forgiveness means letting go of the past.”
— Gerald Jampolsky
“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person by an emotional link.”
— Catherine Ponder
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s letting go of the hurt.”
— Kathy
“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”
— Maya Angelou
“Forgiveness offers the possibility of two types of peace: peace of mind and peace with others.”
— Lewis B. Smedes
“Forgiveness does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory.”
— Lewis B. Smedes
“Release the anger to free your soul.”
— Anonymous
“The best way to move forward is to forgive and set yourself free.”
— Anonymous
“Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness.”
— Gerald Jampolsky
“May we always forgive each other and grow stronger together in love.”
— Anonymous
Forgiveness is a powerful choice that can release past hurts and open the door to peace. Whether you are working to heal a relationship or lighten your own heart, these best forgiveness quotes remind us that letting go is a gift to ourselves. Explore them whenever you need courage or inspiration to move forward. Share your favorites, reflect on their meaning, and remember—every step toward forgiveness is a step toward freedom and happiness.
About Forgiveness
Forgiveness is an intentional act of letting go of anger, resentment, or the desire for revenge toward someone who has wronged us. Rooted in compassion and empathy, forgiveness is valued in nearly every culture and faith tradition as a key ingredient for inner peace and personal growth. It doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning what happened; rather, it means freeing yourself from the lasting weight of hurt by choosing understanding over bitterness. Embracing forgiveness can lead to stronger relationships, improved mental and emotional well-being, and a greater sense of freedom. The journey of forgiveness is deeply personal and often challenging, but it’s one of the most rewarding paths we can walk on the road to healing and happiness.
