162 Beautiful Quotes About Forgiveness And Moving On To Take You Forward In Your Life

“Forgiveness Liberates The Soul. It Removes Fear. That Is Why It Is Such A Powerful Weapon.” – Nelson Mandela

Forgiveness and moving on are two essential aspects of life that we all need to embrace at some point. However, it is easier said than done.

Forgiving someone who has hurt us deeply can be an incredibly challenging task. It requires us to set aside our ego and pride and focus on the greater good of our emotional and mental well-being.

For me, forgiveness has been a difficult journey. There have been times when I have held grudges against people who have hurt me. I would constantly think about the past and replay the hurtful events in my mind, which only made me feel more miserable.

However, over time, I realized that holding onto these negative emotions was not helping me in any way. Instead, it was only causing me more pain and suffering.

I began to see forgiveness as a process, rather than an event. It wasn't something that would happen overnight.

It required me to acknowledge my emotions, feel them fully, and then let them go. It also involved acknowledging that the person who hurt me was human and capable of making mistakes.

Forgiving someone did not mean I had to forget what happened or condone their actions, but it meant that I was willing to release the hold that the hurt had on me.

Moving on, on the other hand, involves letting go of the past and focusing on the present and future.

It's about realizing that the past cannot be changed, but we have control over our present and future.

For me, moving on meant focusing on my goals and dreams and working towards achieving them.

It meant surrounding myself with positive and supportive people who uplifted me and helped me become the best version of myself.

Of course, moving on is not always easy. There are times when I find myself getting stuck in the past and unable to move forward.

During these times, I remind myself that progress is not always linear, and setbacks are a part of life. I try to practice self-compassion and remind myself that I am doing the best I can.

While forgiveness and moving on are not always easy, they are necessary for our emotional and mental well-being.

The 162 quotes in this article provide you with inspiration to forgive and move on, to leave behind negative feelings that can be keeping you from living a full and happy life. Read these quotes and let them speak their wisdom to you.

Quotes Of Forgiveness And Moving On

Forgiving Quotes To Move On From Past

1. “You’ll never know how strong your heart is until you learn to forgive who broke it.” – Unknown
2. “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” – Paul Boose
3. “Forgiveness is a reflection of loving yourself enough to move on.” – Dr. Steve Maraboli

4. “Forgiving isn’t something you do for someone else. It’s something you do for yourself. It’s saying, ‘You’re not important enough to have a stranglehold on me.’ It’s saying, ‘You don’t get to trap me in the past. I am worthy of a future.’” – Jodi Picoult
5. “One of the most courageous decisions you’ll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul.” – Unknown
6. “Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.” – Lily Tomlin
7. “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive” – C.S. Lewis
8. “Sometimes what a person needs most is to be forgiven.” – Jennifer McMahon
9. “Forgiving you is my gift to you. Moving on is my gift to myself.” – Unknown
10. “Acceptance and tolerance and forgiveness; those are life-altering lessons.” – Jessica Lange
11. “Though I was unaware of it at the time, that simple act of forgiveness was the beginning of an entirely new level of experiencing life for me.” – Wayne Dyer
12. “Nothing erases the past. There is repentance, there is atonement, and there is forgiveness. That is all, but that is enough.” – Ted Chiang
13. “Let us forgive each other—only then will we live in peace.” – Leo Tolstoy
14. “The man who forgives is far stronger than the man who fights.” – Nathan Craoll
15. “Forgiveness is just another name for freedom.” – Byron Katie
16. “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” – Mother Teresa
17. “When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power.” – Unknown
18. “Forgiveness is not something you do for someone else; it’s something you do for yourself. To forgive is not to condone, it is to refuse to continue feeling bad about an injury.” – Jim Beaver
19. “Forgiveness is a sign that the person who has wronged you means more to you than the wrong they have dealt.” – Ben Greenhalgh
20. “If we can bring spiritual energy, which is love, kindness, forgiveness and so on, to the problem, we can dissolve it. It’s really just a matter of changing our mind about how we’re going to process the events in our lives.” – Wayne Dyer
21. “Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.” – Marlene Dietrich
22. “Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving a criminal of his crime. It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim—letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor.” – C. R. Strahan
23. “When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.” – Alan Paton
24. “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
25. “The act of forgiveness takes place in our own mind. It really has nothing to do with the other person.” – Louise Hay
26. “Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment. It is a choice to show mercy, not to hold the offense up against the offender. Forgiveness is an expression of love.” – Gary Chapman
27. “We may not know how to forgive, and we may not want to forgive; but the very fact we say we are willing to forgive begins the healing practice.” – Louise Hay
28. “Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free.” – Dave Willis
29. “It takes a strong person to say sorry, and an even stronger person to forgive.” – Unknown
30. “Let’s shake free this gravity of judgment, and fly high on the wings of forgiveness.” – India.Arie

31. “Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend.” – Jewel, “Under the Water”
32. “Forgiveness isn’t approving what happened. It’s choosing to rise above it.” – Robin Sharma
33. “Slide the weight from your shoulders and move forward. You are afraid you might forget, but you never will. You will forgive and remember.” – Barbara Kingsolver
34. “When you forgive, you in no way change the past—but you sure do change the future.” – Bernard Meltzer
35. “Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde
36. “Forgiveness is for you—not the other person. It’s something you do inside yourself that you feel in your body and heart that releases you from your past and frees you to live life fully.” – Barbara J. Hunt
37. “The hardest thing in life is to forgive. But hate is self-destructive. If you hate somebody, you’re not hurting the person you hate, you’re hurting yourself. Forgiveness is healing.” – Louis Zamperini
38. “By having a forgiving attitude, you can change your life and the lives of the people you care about most.” – Kathie M. Thomson
39. “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
40. “Let it hurt. Let it heal. Let it go.” – Unknown
41. “Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.” – Gerald G. Jampolsky
42. “Forgive because none of us are perfect.” – Unknown
43. “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” – Josh Billings
44. “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” – Corrie Ten Boom
45. “The truth was, he now belonged only to my past, and it was time I begin to accept it, as much as it hurt to do so.” – Tammara Webber
46. “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
47. “The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. And the first to forget is the happiest.” – Unknown
48. “You have the power to take away someone’s happiness by refusing to forgive. That someone is you.” – Alan Cohen
49. “Forgiving you means ‘I no longer dwell on what an ahole you are.' It doesn’t mean you are no longer an a**.” – Unknown
50. “Always forgive, but never forget, else you will be a prisoner of your own hatred, and doomed to repeat your mistakes forever.” – Wil Zeus
51. “It can be hard to forgive and let go but it’s important to remember that harboring the resentment and holding a grudge can hurt you even more. The word ‘forgive’ really means to give something up for yourself not for them.” – Jack Canfield
52. “Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.” – Roberto Assagioli
53. “Grudges are for those who insist that they are owed something; forgiveness, however, is for those who are substantial enough to move on.” – Criss Jami
54. “Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” – Marvin J. Ashton
55. “Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.” ― Peter Ustinov

56. “In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feels like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to the next.” – Andy Stanley
57. “Don’t ever underestimate the power of forgiveness. I’ve seen it free people. I’ve seen it life burdens that had weighed them down and kept them from moving on.” – Buffy Andrews
58. “True forgiveness is not an action after the fact, it is an attitude with which you enter each moment.” – David Ridge
59. “The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” – John Green
60. “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
61. “If you choose to forgive someone who has wronged you rather than to hate that person, you shift the frequency of your Light.” ― Gary Zukav
62. “Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.” ― Confucius
63. “People have to forgive. We don't have to like them, we don't have to be friends with them, we don't have to send them hearts in text messages, but we have to forgive them, to overlook, to forget. Because if we don't we are tying rocks to our feet, too much for our wings to carry!” – C. JoyBell C.
64. “If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.” - Unknown
65. “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” – Robert Muller
66. “Forgiveness should start now. Putting off forgiving only deepens the wound. Clinging to bitterness postpones happiness. Life is short, time is fleeting. Today is the day to forgive.” – Wilfred Peterson
67. “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
68. “Forgiveness is a radical act of setting your soul free, and the person you blame, hate, fear or resent cannot help you with that. Only your heart holds the key.” – Anthon St. Maarten
69. “Forgiving someone allows you to start over again. Differently than before. And it may be a harder kind of different in the beginning, but in the end, it’s a better one.” – Caitlin Miller
70. “Forgiveness is the economy of the heart… forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” – Hannah More
71. “Listen. Slide the weight from your shoulders and move forward. You are afraid that you might forget, but you never will. You will forgive and remember.” – Barbara Kingsolver
72. “In the blink of an eye, everything can change. So forgive often and love with all your heart. You may never have that chance again.” – Unknown
73. “Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.” – Desmond Tutu

74. “Forgiveness is freedom.” – Jenny C. BellQuotes About Forgiveness And Moving On With Healthy & Hopeful Thinking

Quotes About Forgiveness And Moving On With Healthy & Hopeful Thinking

75. “Forgiveness is the choice to see people as they are now. When we’re mad at people, we’re angry because of something they said or did before this moment. By letting go of the past, we make room for miracles to replace our grievances.” – Marianne Williamson
76. “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” ― Nelson Mandela
77. “Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.” – William Arthur Ward
78. “People can be more forgiving than you can imagine. But you have to forgive yourself. Let go of what’s bitter and move on.” – Bill Cosby
79. “Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their behavior. Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying your heart.” – Unknown
80. “If you do well, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do well anyway.” - Unknown
81. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
82. “Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.” – Nelson Mandela
83. “Remember, when you forgive, you heal. And when you let go, you grow.” – Unknown
84. “Un-forgiveness is like debris, if you continue to pile them up, your mind will be occupied with the unwanted and there would be no space for the needed.” – ANIKOR Daniel
85. “Do not let your hurt cause you to hate.” – Timothy King
86. “Compassion and forgiveness are signs of strength.” – Unknown
87. “I remember everything but forgive anyway.” – Erica Jong
88. “Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds.” – Sidney and Suzanne Simon
89. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes
90. “I think the first step is to understand that forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim. It’s a gift you give yourself.” – T.D. Jakes
91. “We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it's absolutely not; it takes a very strong person to forgive.” – T. D. Jakes
92. ”Hating someone makes them important. Forgiving them makes them obsolete.” – Unknown
93. “We ask for forgiveness. And we forgive others who ask us. In that way we can experience healing, healing in our souls.” – Ed Dobsons
94. “As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind.” – Isabelle Holland
95. “You don't need strength to let go of something. What you really need is understanding.” – Guy Finley
96. “Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.” – Thomas S. Monson
97. “I can have peace of mind only when I forgive rather than judge.” – Gerald Jampolsky

98. “Forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” – Jonathan Huie
99. “Reminder: Forgiveness is a process. A choice you make over and over, every day until you’re free of hurt.” – Unknown
100. “Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.” – Oprah Winfrey
101. “Be strong enough to forgive without hearing an apology.” – Paulo Coelho
102. “Living is For-Giving; Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness.” – Wald Wassermann
103. “Forgiveness is the best revenge.” – Imam Ali
104. “Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” – Cherie Carter-Scott
105. “Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.” – Hannah Arendt
106. “Forgiveness brings about miracles. Forgiveness helps us understand others like a lamp that illuminates our hearts, enabling us to let go of resentment, vengeance and jealousy.” – Master Jun Hong Lu
107. “. . . forgiveness is a process, not a breath.” – Michelle Muriel
108. “True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’” – Oprah Winfrey
109. “We achieve inner health only through forgiveness—the forgiveness not only of others but also of ourselves.” – Joshua Loth Liebman
110. “When we embrace forgiveness, we instantaneously dissolve stagnant energies from our life, pain and anger that has no benefit or purpose, and in doing so, we open that space in our heart for greater peace, love and healing.” – David Cunliffe
111. “Sometimes the measure of friendship isn’t your ability to not harm but your capacity to forgive the things done to you and ask forgiveness for your own mistakes.” – Randy K. Milholland
112. “Life is an adventure in forgiveness.” – Norman Cousins
113. “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” – Bryant H. McGill
114. “Forgiveness is above all a personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against natural instinct to pay back evil with evil.” – Pope John Paul II
115. “We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.” – Ellen Goodman
116. “Forgiveness and letting go are steps on our road back to happiness.” – Rina Dayton
117. “Instead of getting even or teaching someone a lesson when they do you wrong, consider teaching yourself a lesson instead. Revenge keeps you psychically connected to another in a negative way. Release yourself through the liberating act of forgiveness, and learn a truly valuable spiritual lesson.” – Sri Gawn Tu Fahr
118. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” – Alexander Pope
119. “Resentment blocks the flow of prosperity. Gratitude magnifies and accelerates it. Forgiveness bridges the gap.” – Rev. David Alexander

120. “The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” – Marianne Williamson
121. “Forgiveness is the healing of the perception of separation.” – A Course In Miracles
122. “Choosing to forgive someone for past wrongdoings isn’t an act of weakness or an attempt to forget, but a courageous decision to channel our precious time into a more positive and rewarding direction.” – David Cunliffe
123. “The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods.” – Elbert Hubbard
124. “We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.” – C.S. Lewis
125. “Forgiveness is not forgetting, it’s letting go of the hurt.” – Mary McLeod Bethune
126. “If someone breaks your heart, unburden yourself by seeking inner forgiveness. Then move ahead in life. Remember that each person who comes into your life serves a purpose.” – Anoir Ou-Chad
127. “Forgiveness hurts but its reward is priceless.” – Naide P Obiang
128. “You are not required to retaliate against people who do you wrong. Release the anger, forgive them, and move on so that your life can be made better.” – Germany Kent
129. “It’s not easy to forgive and let go but remind yourself that harboring resentment will only aggravate your pain.” – Unknown
130. “We win by tenderness. We conquer by forgiveness.” – Frederick William Robertson
131. “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” ― Anne Lamott
132. “People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.” - Unknown
133. “When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God’s light shines upon you.” – Jon Krakauer
134. “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” – Mark Twain
135. “Last night I lost the world, and gained the universe.” ― C. JoyBell C.
136. “Forgiveness is making a conscious decision to live in the present… even if the past still hurts.” – Unknown
137. “If you have never forgiven someone who has hurt you deeply, you are yet to experience one of the joys of sublime living.” – King Samuel Benson
138. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
139. “To understand is to forgive, even oneself.” – Alexander Chase
140. “To forgive, is like opening a window in a darkened room and letting the light and the warmth of the sun come in.” – Remez Sasson

141. “Forgive and forget. Not revenge and regret.” – Unknown
142. “To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
143. “We are all on a life long journey and the core of its meaning, the terrible demand of its centrality is forgiving and being forgiven.” ― Martha Kilpatrick
144. “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever,- One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never.” ― William Shakespeare
145. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” — Mahatma Gandhi
146. “A heart filled with anger has no room for love.” – Joan Lunden
147. “Only the brave know how to forgive. … A coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.” – Laurence Sterne
148. “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis
149. “All major religious traditions carry basically the same message; that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”— Dalai Lama
150. “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”— Bruce Lee
151. “A broken friendship that is mended through forgiveness can be even stronger than it once was.” ― Stephen Richards
152. “Forgiveness is like faith. You have to keep reviving it.” ― Mason Cooley
153. “Forgive, forget. Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours.” – Phillips Brooks
154. “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”— Abraham Lincoln
155. “Life is grace. Sleep is forgiveness. The night absolves. Darkness wipes the slate clean, not spotless to be sure, but clean enough for another day’s chalking.” ― Frederick Buechner
156. “The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.”— Thomas Szasz
157. “Sometimes you just have to regret things and move on.” ― Charlaine Harris
158. “Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time. Trust requires a track record.” ― Rick Warren

159. “You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it’.”— Maya Angelou
160. “What I cannot love, I overlook.” ― Anaïs Nin
161. “Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.”— Oscar Wilde
162. “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

What Are Quotes And How Can They Help To Improve Our Lives?

Quotes are simple phrases or sentences that encapsulate powerful ideas or emotions. For me, quotes have always been a source of inspiration and motivation.

They have a way of capturing complex emotions or concepts in just a few words.

Quotes can help us improve our lives by providing us with a fresh perspective on life's challenges.

They can remind us of our values, help us overcome our fears and doubts, and inspire us to take action towards our goals.

Moreover, quotes can be incredibly uplifting and empowering. They can give us the strength to persevere in the face of adversity, and they can remind us of our own inner strength and resilience.

In summary, quotes can serve as powerful tools for personal growth and self-improvement.

They can provide us with a fresh perspective, inspire us to take action, and remind us of our own inner strength and resilience.

What Are Quotes Of Forgiveness And Moving On And How Can They Help Us To Make Positive Change In Our Life?

Quotes of forgiveness and moving on are powerful phrases or sentences that can inspire us to let go of the past and move forward with our lives.

These quotes can serve as reminders that forgiveness and moving on are not just important for our emotional and mental well-being, but also for our personal growth and development.

For me, quotes of forgiveness and moving on have been instrumental in helping me make positive changes in my life.

They have given me the courage and strength to let go of grudges and negative emotions, and focus on the present and future.

They have also helped me cultivate a more positive and optimistic mindset, which has allowed me to overcome challenges and obstacles with greater ease.

Moreover, quotes of forgiveness and moving on can be incredibly empowering. They can remind us that we are in control of our own lives and that we have the power to create the life we want.

By internalizing these quotes and making them a part of our daily lives, we can create positive change and transform ourselves into the best version of ourselves.

Next Steps - How To Incorporate Quotes Of Forgiveness And Moving On Into Your Life

Incorporating quotes of forgiveness and moving on into our lives can be an effective way to cultivate a more positive and optimistic mindset.

Here are some strategies that have worked for me:

1. Write them down: Write down your favorite quotes of forgiveness and moving on and keep them in a visible place, such as on your desk or on a sticky note on your mirror. This way, you'll be reminded of them every day.
2. Repeat them: Say your favorite quotes out loud every day, or repeat them to yourself when you're feeling down or stressed. This can help to shift your mindset and remind you of the importance of forgiveness and moving on.
3. Create art: Create a piece of art that incorporates your favorite quote of forgiveness and moving on. Hang it up in your home or office as a reminder of the power of forgiveness and moving forward.
4. Wear jewelry: Wearing jewelry that features quotes of forgiveness and moving on can be a beautiful and subtle way to remind yourself of their importance. For me, wearing a necklace with a quote that inspires me is a constant reminder of the importance of letting go and moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

As someone who has been inspired by quotes of forgiveness and moving on, I often receive questions about their meaning and effectiveness.

Here are some frequently asked questions and my answers:

What are quotes of forgiveness and moving on?

Quotes of forgiveness and moving on are phrases or sentences that encapsulate the idea of letting go of the past and moving forward with our lives.

They can serve as powerful reminders of the importance of forgiveness and the power of positive thinking.

How can quotes of forgiveness and moving on help me?

Quotes of forgiveness and moving on can help you cultivate a more positive and forgiving mindset, which can lead to greater happiness and success.

By internalizing these quotes and making them a part of your daily life, you can let go of negative emotions and focus on the present and future.

How do I incorporate quotes of forgiveness and moving on into my life?

There are many ways to incorporate quotes of forgiveness and moving on into your life, such as writing them down, repeating them, creating art, or wearing jewelry that features them.

Find the strategy that works best for you and make it a part of your daily routine.