--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To err is human, to forgive is divine." description: "\"To err is human, to forgive is divine.\" — Helen Prejean" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png" --- # To err is human, to forgive is divine. ![“To err is human, to forgive is divine.” quote by Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png) > “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human error is inevitable, but forgiveness is a higher, divine quality that elevates both giver and receiver. **In simple terms:** People make mistakes; forgiveness is noble. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness often. Themes morality compassion spirituality humanity Mood empathetic inspirational Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - counseling - personal development - community building Key Concepts divine forgiveness ethical growth psychological healing Questions to Reflect On - When have you forgiven despite hurt? - What benefits arise from forgiving? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be difficult and may seem unjust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Err Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/err-human/) [Err is human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/err-is-human/) [Erring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erring/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgive Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-divine-540484/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Human Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-forgive-356618/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Making mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-mistakes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Nun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nun/) ## Related quotes > [To err is human; to forgive, divine. --Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-divine-alexander-pope/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To err is human; to forgive, divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-divine/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To err is human, to forgive is interplanetary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-interplanetary/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [To err is human, but to forgive, well that's right on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-vaughn/to-err-is-human-but-to-forgive-well-that-s-right-on/) [Vince Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-vaughn/) > [To err is human, to forgive supine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-supine/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [To err is human, to forgive is against company policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wasserman/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-against-company-policy/) [Lew Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wasserman/) > [To err is human; to forgive, infrequent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-p-adams/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-infrequent/) [Franklin P. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-p-adams/) > [Good-nature and good-sense must ever join; To err is human, to forgive, divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/good-nature-and-good-sense-must-ever-join-to-err-is-human-to-forgive/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Alison's grandfather told her,'To err is human, to forgive divine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-griffith/alison-s-grandfather-told-her-to-err-is-human-to-forgive-divine/) [Diane Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-griffith/) > [“To err, as they say, is human. To forgive is divine. To err by withholding your forgiveness until it’s too late is to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/to-err-as-they-say-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-to-err-by/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [To err is human, to forgive divine. (Acheron) I don’t ask for your forgiveness. I don’t deserve it. I only ask for a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-divine-acheron-i-don-t-ask-for-your/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I just wanna be happy, and if I need to forget about you for a while...Just 'till you understand that to err is human,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-wanna-be-happy-and-if-i-need-to-forget-about-you-for-a-while/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To err is human; to forgive people and yourself for poor behavior is to be sensible and realistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-people-and-yourself-for-poor-behavior-is/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [To err is human. To cover it up is weasel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/to-err-is-human-to-cover-it-up-is-weasel/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [To err is human, but to persevere in error is only the act of a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/to-err-is-human-but-to-persevere-in-error-is-only-the-act-of-a-fool/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More by Helen Prejean > [Government ... can't be trusted to control its own bureaucrats or collect taxes equitably or fill a pothole, much less decide which of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/government-can-t-be-trusted-to-control-its-own-bureaucrats-or-collect/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [When people of color are killed in the inner city, when homeless people are killed, when the "nobodies" are killed, district attorneys do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/when-people-of-color-are-killed-in-the-inner-city-when-homeless/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [people are more than the worst thing they have ever done in their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/people-are-more-than-the-worst-thing-they-have-ever-done-in-their/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [If you are going to do something for the poor, the abused, or the imprisoned, above all be faithful. People with broken lives often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/if-you-are-going-to-do-something-for-the-poor-the-abused-or-the/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [Writing is like praying, because you stop all other activities, descend into silence, and listen patiently to the depths of your soul, waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/writing-is-like-praying-because-you-stop-all-other-activities-descend/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [The important thing is that when you come to understand something you act on it, no matter how small that act is. Eventually it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/the-important-thing-is-that-when-you-come-to-understand-something-you/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [“no government is ever innocent enough or wise enough or just enough to lay claim to so absolute a power as death. (p. 21)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/no-government-is-ever-innocent-enough-or-wise-enough-or-just-enough/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [There are spaces of sorrow only God can touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/there-are-spaces-of-sorrow-only-god-can-touch/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [I tell myself that I had simply better accept the fact that the death penalty is here to stay in our society, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/i-tell-myself-that-i-had-simply-better-accept-the-fact-that-the-death/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [ “The prospect that a person will be killed according to the policy he promulgates prompts the \[priest\] to urge clemency, an incomprehensible position logically.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/the-prospect-that-a-person-will-be-killed-according-to-the-policy-he/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [Once you inject fear into a society of people, they become more and more afraid because they don't cross over the neighbourhoods and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/once-you-inject-fear-into-a-society-of-people-they-become-more-and/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [“Nonviolence and nonaggression are generally regarded as interchangeable concepts - King and Gandhi frequently used them that way - but nonviolence, as employed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/nonviolence-and-nonaggression-are-generally-regarded-as/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [The death penalty is a poor person's issue. Always remember that: after all the rhetoric that goes on in the legislative assemblies, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/the-death-penalty-is-a-poor-person-s-issue-always-remember-that-after/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [Do they deserve to die?" but "Do we deserve to kill them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/do-they-deserve-to-die-but-do-we-deserve-to-kill-them/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) > [When you try, God is there and you get the grace you need to get you through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/when-you-try-god-is-there-and-you-get-the-grace-you-need-to-get-you/) [Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) [Explore all 32 Helen Prejean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/) ## More Catholic quotes > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I'm the daughter of a Kenyan Catholic father and a Mauritian Hindu mother, and I have a Jewish husband who was born in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-kenyan-catholic-father-and-a-mauritian-hindu/) [Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [I grew up with a religious background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-grew-up-with-a-religious-background/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) > [“Even at the tender age of twelve, when I knelt in front of the bishop for my confirmation, I had the sneaking suspicion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-edwards/even-at-the-tender-age-of-twelve-when-i-knelt-in-front-of-the-bishop/) [Megan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-edwards/) > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I think being raised within a Mexican Catholic family made magical realism a very natural part of who I am as a person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/i-think-being-raised-within-a-mexican-catholic-family-made-magical/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [You can never completely get it - being a Christian - but I think I really got it when my first son was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/you-can-never-completely-get-it-being-a-christian-but-i-think-i/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) [Browse all 4,027 Catholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To err is human, to forgive is divine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Prejean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Catholic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/helen-prejean-19524_catholic_to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine-244_2447459.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To err is human, to forgive is divine.” — Helen Prejean", "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": "Helen Prejean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-prejean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To err is human, to forgive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-prejean/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-is-divine/#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 } } ] } ```