--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having looked the past in the eye, having…" description: "\"Having looked the past in the eye, having asked for forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door on the past—not in order to forget it but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg" --- # Having looked the past in the eye, having asked for… ![“Having looked the past in the eye, having asked for forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door on the past—not in order to forget it but in order not to allow it to imprison us.” quote by Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg) > “Having looked the past in the eye, having asked for forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door on the past—not in order to forget it but in order not to allow it to imprison us.” [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. After confronting the past, forgive, make amends, and move forward without being imprisoned by history. **In simple terms:** Forgive, amend, and release the past. Key Takeaway Embrace forgiveness and forward motion. Themes forgiveness reconciliation healing Mood hopeful reflective Type spiritual psychological When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - community healing Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you let go of past hurts? - How can you support others in reconciliation? A Different Perspective Past trauma can resurface. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amends/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Once a year, the inhabitants shut themselves up in their houses, made two lists, turned to face the highest mountain and then raised their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/once-a-year-the-inhabitants-shut-themselves-up-in-their-houses-made/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Tell the Earth how much you care, how beautiful she is, and how much you love her. Ask for her forgiveness for having been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/tell-the-earth-how-much-you-care-how-beautiful-she-is-and-how-much/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [“I shall ask forgiveness for having fed on lies. - Farewell ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-shall-ask-forgiveness-for-having-fed-on-lies-farewell/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“Freedom continues to be the thing I prize most in the world. Of course, this has led me to drink wines I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/freedom-continues-to-be-the-thing-i-prize-most-in-the-world-of-course/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“I conjured my father’s laugh and my mother’s cooking, the stars in the sky over Sylvan Lake. I made peace with anyone who might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout-sara-corbett/i-conjured-my-father-s-laugh-and-my-mother-s-cooking-the-stars-in-the/) Amanda Lindhout Sara Corbett > [And in the morning they asked forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/and-in-the-morning-they-asked-forgiveness/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/) > [I've asked you for forgiveness, i've asked you for your grace, i've asked you for your blessing, i've asked that I be saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mudvayne/i-ve-asked-you-for-forgiveness-i-ve-asked-you-for-your-grace-i-ve/) [Mudvayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mudvayne/) > [God asked, what is forgiveness? A little girl gave a lovely reply: it is the wonderful fruit that a tree gives when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-asked-what-is-forgiveness-a-little-girl-gave-a-lovely-reply-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Someone asked ! What is Forgiveness?? A lovely reply.. It is the wonderful fruit that a tree gives when it is being hurt by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/someone-asked-what-is-forgiveness-a-lovely-reply-it-is-the-wonderful/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The best thing we can do with the failures of the past is to let them be history. Yes, it happened. Certainly it hurt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/the-best-thing-we-can-do-with-the-failures-of-the-past-is-to-let-them/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [I always asked for forgiveness for my sins right away but I never accepted it until I felt right that I had suffered enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-always-asked-for-forgiveness-for-my-sins-right-away-but-i-never/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesnt work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-asked-god-for-a-bike-but-i-know-god-doesnt-work-that-way-so-i-stole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world would never find peace until men fell at their women's feet and asked for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-would-never-find-peace-until-men-fell-at-their-women-s-feet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Real christians always forgive before they are asked for forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/real-christians-always-forgive-before-they-are-asked-for-forgiveness/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“She forgave them, not because they had asked for forgiveness, since they did no such thing, nor because they deserved it, but because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talidari/she-forgave-them-not-because-they-had-asked-for-forgiveness-since/) [Talidari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talidari/) ## 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 Amends quotes > [I am making amends and seeking forgiveness. My only hope is that some good can come out of my situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-blair/i-am-making-amends-and-seeking-forgiveness-my-only-hope-is-that-some/) [Jayson Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-blair/) > [Put that pride/stubbornness aside and reach out to someone n make amends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-that-pride-stubbornness-aside-and-reach-out-to-someone-n-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We make stupid mistakes when we're young; we do our best to make amends for them as we get older. We survive by learning;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-steele/we-make-stupid-mistakes-when-we-re-young-we-do-our-best-to-make/) [Allen Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-steele/) > [ Sadly, \[Pablo Escobar\] ended up throwing away the one opportunity he had. I naively thought, as a son and as many other Colombians, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-escobar/sadly-pablo-escobar-ended-up-throwing-away-the-one-opportunity-he-had/) [Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-escobar/) > [Forgiveness does not mean that we have to continue to relate to those who have done us harm. In some cases the best practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/forgiveness-does-not-mean-that-we-have-to-continue-to-relate-to-those/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [If you did something in 1975 that you deeply regret and that you now can recognize as having been profoundly irresponsible, for example, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/if-you-did-something-in-1975-that-you-deeply-regret-and-that-you-now/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Karma means that all actions have consequences. Grace means that in a moment of atonement -taking responsibility, making amends, asking for forgiveness - all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/karma-means-that-all-actions-have-consequences-grace-means-that-in-a/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“The difference between humility and humiliation is willingness. Ultimately, it's not for them. It's for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-hart/the-difference-between-humility-and-humiliation-is-willingness/) Rob Hart > [Like the Puritans, live in terms of the settled judgement that the joy of heaven will make amends of any losses and crosses, strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-beeke/like-the-puritans-live-in-terms-of-the-settled-judgement-that-the-joy/) [Joel Beeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-beeke/) > [As long as you live, it is never too late to make amends. Take my advice, child. Don't waste your precious life with regrets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hesse/as-long-as-you-live-it-is-never-too-late-to-make-amends-take-my/) [Karen Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hesse/) > [Making amends with some people just for the sake of it is a sign of maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/making-amends-with-some-people-just-for-the-sake-of-it-is-a-sign-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-think-we-are-well-advised-to-keep-on-nodding-terms-with-the-people/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's misused oppurtunities!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/not-to-know-that-no-space-of-regret-can-make-amends-for-one-life-s/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Let a man do what he will by a single woman, the world is encouragingly apt to think Marriage a sufficient amends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/let-a-man-do-what-he-will-by-a-single-woman-the-world-is/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Browse all 90 Amends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amends/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Having looked the past in the eye, having asked for forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door on the past—not in order to forget it but in order not to allow it to imprison us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Desmond Tutu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having-asked-for-forgiveness-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having-asked-for-forgiveness-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca6/desmond-tutu-442_amends_having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having_2697541.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Having looked the past in the eye, having asked for forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door…” — Desmond Tutu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Desmond Tutu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Having looked the past in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having-asked-for-forgiveness-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/having-looked-the-past-in-the-eye-having-asked-for-forgiveness-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```