--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Apologizing is great, but ‘sorry’ isn’t a…" description: "\"“Apologizing is great, but ‘sorry’ isn’t a magic word.”\" — G. Norman Lippert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/g-norman-lippert-3703_quote_apologizing-is-great-but-sorry-isn-t-a-m_1050351.jpg" --- # Apologizing is great, but ‘sorry’ isn’t a magic word. ![“Apologizing is great, but ‘sorry’ isn’t a magic word.” quote by G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/g-norman-lippert-3703_quote_apologizing-is-great-but-sorry-isn-t-a-m_1050351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/g-norman-lippert-3703_quote_apologizing-is-great-but-sorry-isn-t-a-m_1050351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/g-norman-lippert-3703_quote_apologizing-is-great-but-sorry-isn-t-a-m_1050351.jpg) > ““Apologizing is great, but ‘sorry’ isn’t a magic word.”” [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Apologizing alone doesn't fix harm; sincere actions matter more than words. **In simple terms:** Words aren't enough; actions matter. Key Takeaway Focus on reparative actions. Themes responsibility communication relationships Mood reflective serious Type advice ethical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal relationships - customer service Key Concepts apology intent trust Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate remorse beyond saying sorry? - What actions rebuild trust after a mistake? A Different Perspective Sincere apologies may be dismissed without tangible change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologizing/) [Apologizing Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologizing-great-2507528/) [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Great Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-sorry-2507530/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Sorry Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry-isn-2507529/) ## Related quotes > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Never say sorry to anyone if you don't really mean it, and don't commit about anything that you know you don't really mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/never-say-sorry-to-anyone-if-you-don-t-really-mean-it-and-don-t/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“I’m sorry.’ The two most inadequate words in the English language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/i-m-sorry-the-two-most-inadequate-words-in-the-english-language/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [Sometimes sorry isn't enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-sorry-isn-t-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sorry? Sorry? Sorry isn't enough. Every. Single. Thing. I ever loved is beyond my reach now. Everything I ever wanted. Everything I ever was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/sorry-sorry-sorry-isn-t-enough-every-single-thing-i-ever-loved-is/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [“What do you do when you say sorry, but that still isn't enough?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/what-do-you-do-when-you-say-sorry-but-that-still-isn-t-enough/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [Sorry, but this isn't basketball. And I'm not your rebound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-but-this-isn-t-basketball-and-i-m-not-your-rebound/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes, sorry isn't enough when you screw up too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-forgotten/sometimes-sorry-isn-t-enough-when-you-screw-up-too-much/) [The Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-forgotten/) > [We need to stop apologizing for celebrating life. We need to stop apologizing for wanting to protect an individual's right to build a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-need-to-stop-apologizing-for-celebrating-life-we-need-to-stop/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [APOLOGIZE. It brings healing, provides closure, and frees your mind. A simple apology can open up peoples heart again, which in return, can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/apologize-it-brings-healing-provides-closure-and-frees-your-mind-a/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [Sometimes when the spouse is really the culprit, it is hard to admit what you consider your little failures, but if you are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/sometimes-when-the-spouse-is-really-the-culprit-it-is-hard-to-admit/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Every young sculptor seems to think that he must give the world some specimen of indecorous womanhood, and call it Eve, Venus, a Nymph,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/every-young-sculptor-seems-to-think-that-he-must-give-the-world-some/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embrace the discarded policies of the past. Nothing could be further from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-lott/a-poor-choice-of-words-conveyed-to-some-the-impression-that-i-embrace/) [Trent Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-lott/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) ## More by G. Norman Lippert > [Sometimes curiosity is a poison, not only for those who drink it but for everyone around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/sometimes-curiosity-is-a-poison-not-only-for-those-who-drink-it-but/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“The Slytherin sleeping quarters felt to James like someplace a very tasteful and wealthy pirate captain might sleep. The room was wide, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/the-slytherin-sleeping-quarters-felt-to-james-like-someplace-a-very/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“1. Shadow of Legends”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/1-shadow-of-legends/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“I think James here has either just made a gorgeous friend or a sultry enemy,” Zane said, watching the swoop and drape of Tabitha’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/i-think-james-here-has-either-just-made-a-gorgeous-friend-or-a-sultry/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Professor Longbottom only assigned us to write about spynuswort because it’s one of the three most useful plants in the magical world. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/professor-longbottom-only-assigned-us-to-write-about-spynuswort/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“The challenge of good men is not to thwart change, but to mold it as it comes, so that it may benefit rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/the-challenge-of-good-men-is-not-to-thwart-change-but-to-mold-it-as/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Thought you were making a James Band Joke. Hard to tell with that accent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/thought-you-were-making-a-james-band-joke-hard-to-tell-with-that/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“It has been said,” Jackson continued, beginning to pace slowly around the room, “that there is no such thing as a stupid question. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/it-has-been-said-jackson-continued-beginning-to-pace-slowly-around/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Cyclones cannot see you if you don't move" "That's dinosaurs you crazy fruit bat!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/cyclones-cannot-see-you-if-you-don-t-move-that-s-dinosaurs-you-crazy/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Suresy, are we? Mmm! Beans, beans, the musical fruit!” Peeves dismissed James and swooped back up to the rafters again. “The more I plant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/suresy-are-we-mmm-beans-beans-the-musical-fruit-peeves-dismissed/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Then I have an ivory chair high to sit upon, Almost like my father's chair, which is an ivory throne; There I sit uplift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/then-i-have-an-ivory-chair-high-to-sit-upon-almost-like-my-father-s/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Merlin nodded gravely. “Doing what is right is nearly always simple, Mr. Potter. But it is never easy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/merlin-nodded-gravely-doing-what-is-right-is-nearly-always-simple-mr/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“Rain fell in great sheets, hitting the pavement hard enough to send up a blattering, dirty mist. A small man stood on the corner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/rain-fell-in-great-sheets-hitting-the-pavement-hard-enough-to-send-up/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“The earth was quiet around him, but alive. He felt it through the soles of his feet when he walked. The vibrancy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/the-earth-was-quiet-around-him-but-alive-he-felt-it-through-the-soles/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [“I know you said your dad and his mates used to do this all the time, but one of them was a girl, remember?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/i-know-you-said-your-dad-and-his-mates-used-to-do-this-all-the-time/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) [Explore all 92 G. Norman Lippert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) ## More Apologizing quotes > [“There were probably many factors that kept the relationship going and kept your love alive. There were all his promises. "I promise this will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-kennedy-dugan/there-were-probably-many-factors-that-kept-the-relationship-going-and/) [Meg Kennedy Dugan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-kennedy-dugan/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [To apologize for what you most wanted to do, to concede that it was obnoxious, boring, 'vulgar and unsafe' --- that was the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/to-apologize-for-what-you-most-wanted-to-do-to-concede-that-it-was/) [Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/) > [I have some friends who are actors. I've watched them work. And I would say that of all the arts, acting is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-have-some-friends-who-are-actors-i-ve-watched-them-work-and-i-would/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [President Bush deliberately did not apologize for things and that’s because advisers around him, including those there, felt that the press corps would jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gregory/president-bush-deliberately-did-not-apologize-for-things-and-that-s/) [David Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gregory/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [I would like to publicly apologize to anyone I have NOT offended¦I will get to you shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-publicly-apologize-to-anyone-i-have-not-offended-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a responsibility, and it's something that I did wrong, and if I could personally apologize to every single person that has lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-have-a-responsibility-and-it-s-something-that-i-did-wrong-and-if-i/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) [Marilyn Tavenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-tavenner/) > [My overall point is that 'one and dones' are not healthy for college basketball. I should not have made it personal to Kentucky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/my-overall-point-is-that-one-and-dones-are-not-healthy-for-college/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Don't apologize for being patriotic. Support the troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/don-t-apologize-for-being-patriotic-support-the-troops/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [How many chefs when I was a young boy shouted at me during service? All I ever said was "Yes, chef." The customer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/how-many-chefs-when-i-was-a-young-boy-shouted-at-me-during-service/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [I want to use my connections with coaches, players, celebrities, whomever, and if I can take that friendship and use it to help someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/i-want-to-use-my-connections-with-coaches-players-celebrities/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) > [I apologize for the cruel things that I did but I don't regret one single word I said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/i-apologize-for-the-cruel-things-that-i-did-but-i-don-t-regret-one/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) [Browse all 854 Apologizing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologizing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Apologizing is great, but ‘sorry’ isn’t a magic word.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G. 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