--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: when you forgive someone, it doesn’t…" description: "\"“when you forgive someone, it doesn’t diminish or erase what was done to you. You don’t have to understand why they did it, and you certainly don’t hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/andrew-peterson-12746_forgive_when-you-forgive-someone-it-doesn-t-dimi_224874.png" --- # when you forgive someone, it doesn’t diminish or erase… ![“when you forgive someone, it doesn’t diminish or erase what was done to you. You don’t have to understand why they did it, and you certainly don’t have to be on friendly terms with someone who’s hurt you. When you forgive someone, you’re doing it to release their debt to you.” quote by Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/andrew-peterson-12746_forgive_when-you-forgive-someone-it-doesn-t-dimi_224874.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/andrew-peterson-12746_forgive_when-you-forgive-someone-it-doesn-t-dimi_224874.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/andrew-peterson-12746_forgive_when-you-forgive-someone-it-doesn-t-dimi_224874.png) > ““when you forgive someone, it doesn’t diminish or erase what was done to you. You don’t have to understand why they did it, and you certainly don’t have to be on friendly terms with someone who’s hurt you. When you forgive someone, you’re doing it to release their debt to you.”” [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiving releases the offender’s debt to you without erasing the harm or requiring friendship. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness frees you, not the offender. Key Takeaway Forgive to free yourself. Themes forgiveness healing relationships personal growth Mood calm hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal counseling - spiritual practice - daily interactions Key Concepts emotional release psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why hold onto resentment? - Can forgiveness coexist with boundaries? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may not change the offender’s behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ## Related quotes > [We have to remember, when we forgive we're not doing it just for the other person, we're doing it for our own good. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/we-have-to-remember-when-we-forgive-we-re-not-doing-it-just-for-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Forgiveness in no way requires you to trust the one you forgive. It doesn't mean the relationship must be restored. p. 61”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-fish/forgiveness-in-no-way-requires-you-to-trust-the-one-you-forgive-it/) Roberta Fish > [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/) > [Every time we get hurt we forgive, forget and move on. But, we must keep this in mind. Never forget 3 types of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-we-get-hurt-we-forgive-forget-and-move-on-but-we-must-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hurt you and I can't forgive myself for that any time soon. But I know that you will find someone who loves you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hurt-you-and-i-can-t-forgive-myself-for-that-any-time-soon-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But people didn't forgive you for doing what felt right-that was the last thing they forgave you for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/but-people-didn-t-forgive-you-for-doing-what-felt-right-that-was-the/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [“Justified within ourselves that we have suffered more than others, we feel guiltless when we disregard those in front of us, be they our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-browning/justified-within-ourselves-that-we-have-suffered-more-than-others-we/) [L.M. Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-browning/) > [I'm not going to waste my energy looking into the eyes of someone like the guy who blew my legs off trying to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-m-not-going-to-waste-my-energy-looking-into-the-eyes-of-someone/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [I still forgive him, because by doing what he did, he made it famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-korda/i-still-forgive-him-because-by-doing-what-he-did-he-made-it-famous/) [Alberto Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-korda/) > [When you forgive, you're not doing God a favor, you are giving yourself the gift of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/when-you-forgive-you-re-not-doing-god-a-favor-you-are-giving-yourself/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [You can forgive someone almost anything. But you cannot tolerate everything...We don't have to tolerate what people do just because we forgive them for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/you-can-forgive-someone-almost-anything-but-you-cannot-tolerate/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-ball/motherhood-is-a-choice-you-make-everyday-to-put-someone-else-s/) [Donna Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-ball/) > [“We are asked to forgive those who have injured us. Unless we have first judged and condemned them for what they did, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-anon-family-groups/we-are-asked-to-forgive-those-who-have-injured-us-unless-we-have/) [Al-Anon Family Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-anon-family-groups/) > [“If you can’t forgive yourself… doesn’t matters if others do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swetha-dhanagari/if-you-can-t-forgive-yourself-doesn-t-matters-if-others-do/) [Swetha Dhanagari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swetha-dhanagari/) > [Just because-i'm quiet- doesn't mean I don't have alot to say just because-i seem happy- it doesn't mean everything is ok. just because-i forgive-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-i-m-quiet-doesn-t-mean-i-don-t-have-alot-to-say-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Andrew Peterson > [“Neither of them spoke while they walked. Life was so amazing and rich, and yet so equally full of disappointment and heartache. Such was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/neither-of-them-spoke-while-they-walked-life-was-so-amazing-and-rich/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [Hey, angel, your horns are sticking up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/hey-angel-your-horns-are-sticking-up/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“Don't just follow your heart. Your heart will betray you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/don-t-just-follow-your-heart-your-heart-will-betray-you/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“We're in the Maker's keeping. Even if we die trying, death is just another way out. But you? You'll just turn to dust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/we-re-in-the-maker-s-keeping-even-if-we-die-trying-death-is-just/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“It is true the Shining Isle is smoke and ashes and that darkness is wide over the land. But your long memories have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/it-is-true-the-shining-isle-is-smoke-and-ashes-and-that-darkness-is/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“I am convinced that poets are toddlers in a cathedral, slobbering on wooden blocks and piling them up in the light of the stained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/i-am-convinced-that-poets-are-toddlers-in-a-cathedral-slobbering-on/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“There's just something about the way he sings. It makes me think of when it snows outside, and the fire is warm, and Podo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/there-s-just-something-about-the-way-he-sings-it-makes-me-think-of/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“There’s no correlation between wealth and happiness. Absolutely none. It’s one of society’s biggest lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/there-s-no-correlation-between-wealth-and-happiness-absolutely-none/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“Here I sit in the presence of queens and heroes and magic. Yes, magic. It is only when we have grown too old that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/here-i-sit-in-the-presence-of-queens-and-heroes-and-magic-yes-magic/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“Nathan nodded. “And he nearly succeeded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/nathan-nodded-and-he-nearly-succeeded/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“The Wounded Warriors ball cap he wore helped mitigate the grooves on his face. He didn’t think of himself as a wounded warrior per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/the-wounded-warriors-ball-cap-he-wore-helped-mitigate-the-grooves-on/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [Well "I do" are the two most famous last words. The beginning of the end. But to lose your life for another I've heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/well-i-do-are-the-two-most-famous-last-words-the-beginning-of-the-end/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“If you’re looking for other authors who’ll grab your attention and keep it, I’m happy to recommend the following: Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines Series…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/if-you-re-looking-for-other-authors-who-ll-grab-your-attention-and/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“All I know is that I was blind, but now I see; that though I kick and scream, love is leading me. And every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/all-i-know-is-that-i-was-blind-but-now-i-see-that-though-i-kick-and/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“Gnag bends things for breaking, and the Maker makes a flourish! Evil digs a pit, and the Maker makes a well! That is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/gnag-bends-things-for-breaking-and-the-maker-makes-a-flourish-evil/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) [Explore all 52 Andrew Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) ## 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": "“when you forgive someone, it doesn’t diminish or erase what was done to you. You don’t have to understand why they did it, and you certainly don’t have to be on friendly terms with someone who’s hurt you. 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