--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness is truly the grace by which…" description: "\"“Forgiveness is truly the grace by which we enable another person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew. To not forgive leads to bitterness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/desmond-tutu-442_forgive_forgiveness-is-truly-the-grace-by-which_2677141.jpg" --- # Forgiveness is truly the grace by which we enable another… ![“Forgiveness is truly the grace by which we enable another person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew. To not forgive leads to bitterness and hatred. Like self-hatred and self-contempt, hatred of others gnaws away at our vitals. Whether hatred is projected out or stuffed in, it is…” quote by Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/desmond-tutu-442_forgive_forgiveness-is-truly-the-grace-by-which_2677141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/desmond-tutu-442_forgive_forgiveness-is-truly-the-grace-by-which_2677141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/desmond-tutu-442_forgive_forgiveness-is-truly-the-grace-by-which_2677141.jpg) > ““Forgiveness is truly the grace by which we enable another person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew. To not forgive leads to bitterness and hatred. Like self-hatred and self-contempt, hatred of others gnaws away at our vitals. Whether hatred is projected out or stuffed in, it is always corrosive to the human spirit.”” [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness lets others recover with dignity; without it, bitterness corrodes the spirit. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness restores dignity; bitterness harms. Key Takeaway Choose forgiveness to heal. Themes forgiveness dignity bitterness healing Mood reflective hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - personal conflict resolution - family reconciliation - community building - mental health therapy Key Concepts compassion psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How does holding anger affect your wellbeing? - What steps can you take to forgive? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be difficult when harm is severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anew Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anew-forgive-2550422/) [Begin Anew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-anew/) [Bitterness Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness-hatred-1094482/) [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiveness Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-truly-774380/) [Hatred Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-self-1227308/) [Human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-spirit/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [Forgiveness is the grace by which you enable the other person to get up and get up with dignity, to begin anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/forgiveness-is-the-grace-by-which-you-enable-the-other-person-to-get/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“why. I have found it difficult at times to forgive myself for what happened.  But a significant part of the answer involves forgiveness, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-graham/why-i-have-found-it-difficult-at-times-to-forgive-myself-for-what/) [Joshua Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-graham/) > [“We can only truly love, when we realized we have been loved all along, by the one person who gave their life for simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/we-can-only-truly-love-when-we-realized-we-have-been-loved-all-along/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [To grant forgiveness to someone who has truly changed is not a way of condoning or forgetting his or her past crimes, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/to-grant-forgiveness-to-someone-who-has-truly-changed-is-not-a-way-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“Many things are impossible for men to do alone, but everything is possible with God. Regardless of how big your errors might have been,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/many-things-are-impossible-for-men-to-do-alone-but-everything-is/) [Dragos Bratasanu, Ph.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/) > [There's forgiveness if you ask forgiveness, you truly repent, and you do make an honest effort not to do that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-travis/there-s-forgiveness-if-you-ask-forgiveness-you-truly-repent-and-you/) [Randy Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-travis/) > [“Resentment is a method of self harm. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/let-us-not-seek-to-satisfy-our-thirst-for-freedom-by-drinking-from/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward-the-gate-that-would-lead-to-my/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“I have met people who truly do not believe in God, and they feel no anger when they see suffering. They are indifferent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/i-have-met-people-who-truly-do-not-believe-in-god-and-they-feel-no/) [Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/) > [And I believe happiness is the exact opposite of sadness, bitterness, and hatred: happiness should remain unexamined as long as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/and-i-believe-happiness-is-the-exact-opposite-of-sadness-bitterness/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When a nation becomes obsessed with the guns of war, it loses its social perspective… There is something about a war like this that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-a-nation-becomes-obsessed-with-the-guns-of-war-it-loses-its/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“You are entitled to feel all the bitterness and hatred you were taught. You are entitled to carry with you the pain and sorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-peterson/you-are-entitled-to-feel-all-the-bitterness-and-hatred-you-were/) [Tracie Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-peterson/) > [If he had to bring all the bitterness and hatred of the world into his heart, he was not going to be in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/if-he-had-to-bring-all-the-bitterness-and-hatred-of-the-world-into/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“REGARDLESS OF WHY YOU’VE MADE BITTERNESS AND HATRED YOUR BEST FRIENDS, IF YOU CARRY THEM AROUND LONG ENOUGH, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY EAT YOU FROM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-vallotton/regardless-of-why-you-ve-made-bitterness-and-hatred-your-best-friends/) [Kris Vallotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-vallotton/) ## More by Desmond Tutu > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Too many people think that reconciliation means you soft-pedal differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/too-many-people-think-that-reconciliation-means-you-soft-pedal/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Every situation of justice is an occasion where someone is being humiliated and they want to restore their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/every-situation-of-justice-is-an-occasion-where-someone-is-being/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Race should not be used to claim privileges and rights for one group, exclusively, which are denied other different groups. Then that is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/race-should-not-be-used-to-claim-privileges-and-rights-for-one-group/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [People are able to justify immense cruelty and say that it is something that is sanctioned by their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/people-are-able-to-justify-immense-cruelty-and-say-that-it-is/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/south-africa-so-utterly-improbably-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-and/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I don't often want to speak. I try to be a reasonable person and to be diplomatic, but you go to that place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-don-t-often-want-to-speak-i-try-to-be-a-reasonable-person-and-to-be/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“child of God, known by name and whose very hairs are numbered. Praise and adore God and thank him for ever and ever. Amen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/child-of-god-known-by-name-and-whose-very-hairs-are-numbered-praise/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [To remain neutral in situations of injustice is to be complicit in that injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/to-remain-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-is-to-be-complicit-in/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [It's a fantastic thing that from moment to the next moment if God were to have stopped for a split second we would disintegrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-s-a-fantastic-thing-that-from-moment-to-the-next-moment-if-god/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Once lost, trust can only be regained if we are as good as our word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/once-lost-trust-can-only-be-regained-if-we-are-as-good-as-our-word/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) [Explore all 558 Desmond Tutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Forgiveness is truly the grace by which we enable another person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew. To not forgive leads to bitterness and hatred. Like self-hatred and self-contempt, hatred of others gnaws away at our vitals. 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