--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have the power to take away someone's…" description: "\"You have the power to take away someone's happiness by refusing to forgive. That someone is you.\" — Alan Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/alan-cohen-1112_forgive_you-have-the-power-to-take-away-someone_2862620.png" --- # You have the power to take away someone's happiness by… ![“You have the power to take away someone's happiness by refusing to forgive. That someone is you.” quote by Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/alan-cohen-1112_forgive_you-have-the-power-to-take-away-someone_2862620.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/alan-cohen-1112_forgive_you-have-the-power-to-take-away-someone_2862620.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/alan-cohen-1112_forgive_you-have-the-power-to-take-away-someone_2862620.png) > “You have the power to take away someone's happiness by refusing to forgive. That someone is you.” [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Refusing to forgive harms oneself more than the other, implying forgiveness is a gift to the forgiver. **In simple terms:** Holding grudges hurts you more than them. Key Takeaway Choose forgiveness to free yourself. Themes forgiveness self‑care emotional health power psychology Mood reflective healing Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal therapy - conflict resolution - daily mindfulness Key Concepts self‑reflection emotional release Questions to Reflect On - What does forgiveness mean to you? - How can you practice letting go? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [Refusing to forgive is like ingesting a lethal dose of poison and hoping it kills my enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/refusing-to-forgive-is-like-ingesting-a-lethal-dose-of-poison-and/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Refusing to forgive someone is like drinking poison, and waiting for the other person to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishemo/refusing-to-forgive-someone-is-like-drinking-poison-and-waiting-for/) [VishEmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishemo/) > [The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans said that those who pass judgment on others are 'inexcusable.' The moment we judge someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/the-apostle-paul-in-his-letter-to-the-romans-said-that-those-who-pass/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [You give your power away when you make someone or something outside of you more important than what is inside of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/you-give-your-power-away-when-you-make-someone-or-something-outside/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“If we refuse to forgive, we have stepped into dangerous waters. First, refusing to forgive is to put ourselves in the place of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voddie-baucham-jr/if-we-refuse-to-forgive-we-have-stepped-into-dangerous-waters-first/) [Voddie Baucham Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voddie-baucham-jr/) > [“That's the unforgivable sin, you know." "What is?" "Refusing to forgive someone." "Refusing to forgive someone is the unforgivable sin?" I asked incredulously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/that-s-the-unforgivable-sin-you-know-what-is-refusing-to-forgive/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [I was actually telling people that - by harnessing the atom - we could enter a new era of unlimited power that would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/i-was-actually-telling-people-that-by-harnessing-the-atom-we-could/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [When you live in reaction, you give your power away. Then you get to experience what you gave your power to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-in-reaction-you-give-your-power-away-then-you-get-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every time I tell my story, I feel that I am taking some power away from the terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-murad/every-time-i-tell-my-story-i-feel-that-i-am-taking-some-power-away/) [Nadia Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-murad/) > [It's a little bit annoying, because it feels like everybody's taking the power away from you. Everybody's taking your adult life away from you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/it-s-a-little-bit-annoying-because-it-feels-like-everybody-s-taking/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [Taking power away from a man is a dangerous thing. Someone always pays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/taking-power-away-from-a-man-is-a-dangerous-thing-someone-always-pays/) [Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/) > [If you know who you are, it takes all the power away from that negativity.. I promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/if-you-know-who-you-are-it-takes-all-the-power-away-from-that/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [Hiding our true thoughts and feelings is just one example of how we give our power away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/hiding-our-true-thoughts-and-feelings-is-just-one-example-of-how-we/) [Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/) > [We stress out over things we can't control. So if something is a stressor, you can just simply take the power away from it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christen-press/we-stress-out-over-things-we-can-t-control-so-if-something-is-a/) [Christen Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christen-press/) > [When you begin the process of unhooking from the outer world, you can find literally hundreds of places where you have given your power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/when-you-begin-the-process-of-unhooking-from-the-outer-world-you-can/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) ## More by Alan Cohen > [When you protect yourself from pain, be sure you do not protect yourself from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-protect-yourself-from-pain-be-sure-you-do-not-protect/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Anyone in a state of seeking can never be happy. Only those who are constantly finding are fulfilled. And finding is not something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/anyone-in-a-state-of-seeking-can-never-be-happy-only-those-who-are/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“You cannot be other than you are. Thank God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/you-cannot-be-other-than-you-are-thank-god/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Evaluate every act by whether it brings you greater life, or deadens you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/evaluate-every-act-by-whether-it-brings-you-greater-life-or-deadens/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Put aside ambition for public recognition, and simply do what you do because it feels good inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/put-aside-ambition-for-public-recognition-and-simply-do-what-you-do/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“newspaper ads for lost pets and earthquakes that soon follow. Other studies indicate a higher rate of last-minute cancellations for airplane flights that crash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/newspaper-ads-for-lost-pets-and-earthquakes-that-soon-follow-other/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“Quit using your creative power to formulate questions. You can just as easily—more easily— use it to formulate answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-using-your-creative-power-to-formulate-questions-you-can-just-as/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > ['How can I be more like you?' she asked the guru. 'The best way to be more like me is to be more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/how-can-i-be-more-like-you-she-asked-the-guru-the-best-way-to-be-more/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Turmoil is a call for awakening. Every challenge, great or small, is moving you to look deeper and draw forth the highest in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/turmoil-is-a-call-for-awakening-every-challenge-great-or-small-is/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The difficulties of life do not keep you from greatness. They show you to its door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-difficulties-of-life-do-not-keep-you-from-greatness-they-show-you/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [What a doctor or healer tells you is a reflection of the beliefs and expectations you hold. Change your beliefs and you change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/what-a-doctor-or-healer-tells-you-is-a-reflection-of-the-beliefs-and/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Quit planning your dream and start living it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-planning-your-dream-and-start-living-it/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The more you invest in your happiness, the more happiness will invest in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-more-you-invest-in-your-happiness-the-more-happiness-will-invest/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Joy is the wild card of life; it supersedes every other formula for success. If you can find a way to create joy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/joy-is-the-wild-card-of-life-it-supersedes-every-other-formula-for/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) [Explore all 290 Alan Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More Forgive quotes > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [Im so sorry,i screwed up again.i didnt meant hurting you.please,forgive me,again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redeyeen/im-so-sorry-i-screwed-up-again-i-didnt-meant-hurting-you-please/) Redeyeen > [“He fell back. He had cried out so loud that even if there had been no breach in the wall, I should have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/he-fell-back-he-had-cried-out-so-loud-that-even-if-there-had-been-no/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Ive learned¦ that no matter how good a friend is, theyre going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-no-matter-how-good-a-friend-is-theyre-going-to-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“By choosing to forgive, you are choosing to love. By choosing to operate in love, you are choosing to operate in an unconditional state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-watterson/by-choosing-to-forgive-you-are-choosing-to-love-by-choosing-to/) Eric Watterson > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) Browse all 3,381 Forgive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have the power to take away someone's happiness by refusing to forgive. 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