--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is…" description: "\"“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.”\" — Henry Ward Beecher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png" --- # I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way… ![“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.” quote by Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png) > ““I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.”” [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness without forgetting is impossible; forgetting is part of forgiveness. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness requires letting go of memory. Key Takeaway Release both memory and resentment. Themes forgiveness memory healing Mood thoughtful hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal healing - relationship counseling Key Concepts ethical philosophy emotional health Questions to Reflect On - Can you forgive without remembering? - What role does memory play in healing? A Different Perspective Some argue forgetting is necessary for peace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger and forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-and-forgiveness/) [Asking for forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-for-forgiveness/) [Forgive and forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-and-forget/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Forgiving heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving-heart/) [Forgiving others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving-others/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [How to forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how-to-forgive/) [I forgive you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-forgive-you/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love and forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-forgiveness/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Never forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-forgive/) [Not forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-forgiving/) [Power of forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-forgiveness/) [Self forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-forgiveness/) [Suicidal thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicidal-thoughts/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [What is forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-is-forgiveness/) ## Related quotes > [I was taught to be Biblical: “Forgive them for they know not what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-was-taught-to-be-biblical-forgive-them-for-they-know-not-what-they/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Forgiveness saves the expense of anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/forgiveness-saves-the-expense-of-anger/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [The weak can never forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-weak-can-never-forgive/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I can forgive but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I cannot forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-only-another-way-of-saying-i/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-develop-and-maintain-the-capacity-to-forgive-he-who-is-devoid-3/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There is some good in the worst of us, and some evil in the best of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-is-some-good-in-the-worst-of-us-and-some-evil-in-the-best-of-us/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-lunden/forgiveness-gives-you-back-the-laughter-and-the-lightness-in-your-life/) [Joan Lunden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-lunden/) > [In fact, not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/in-fact-not-forgiving-is-like-drinking-rat-poison-and-then-waiting/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-only-another-way-of-saying-i-2/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness. It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-glory-of-christianity-is-to-conquer-by-forgiveness-it-is-easier/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/be-kind-and-compassionate-to-one-another-forgiving-each-other-just-as/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [Only someone who can say 'I love you' is capable of saying 'I forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/only-someone-who-can-say-i-love-you-is-capable-of-saying-i-forgive-you/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“forgiving our fathers by dick lourie maybe in a dream: he's in your power you twist his arm but you're not sure it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-lourie/forgiving-our-fathers-by-dick-lourie-maybe-in-a-dream-he-s-in-your/) Dick Lourie > [Love is saying, 'I forgive you for hurting me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-saying-i-forgive-you-for-hurting-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Henry Ward Beecher expressed the thought this way: "I can forgive but I cannot forget is another way of saying I cannot forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/henry-ward-beecher-expressed-the-thought-this-way-i-can-forgive-but-i/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) ## More by Henry Ward Beecher > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/even-a-liar-tells-a-hundred-truths-to-one-lie-he-has-to-to-make-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [In America there is not one single element of civilization that is not made to depend, in the end, upon public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-america-there-is-not-one-single-element-of-civilization-that-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The best lessons a man ever learns are from his mistakes. It is not for want of schoolmasters that we are still ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-best-lessons-a-man-ever-learns-are-from-his-mistakes-it-is-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [THERE are joys which long to be ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-joys-which-long-to-be-ours/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/people-may-talk-about-the-equality-of-the-sexes-they-are-not-equal/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You have seen a ship out on the bay, swinging with the tide, and seeming as if it would follow it; and yet it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/you-have-seen-a-ship-out-on-the-bay-swinging-with-the-tide-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Explore all 990 Henry Ward Beecher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More Anger and forgiveness quotes > [Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles,a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-mcfatridge-terry/holding-on-to-anger-resentment-and-hurt-only-gives-you-tense-muscles/) [Kris( McFatridge) Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-mcfatridge-terry/) > [The weak can never forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-weak-can-never-forgive/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Little vicious minds abound with anger and revenge and are incapable of feeling te pleasure of forgiving their enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/little-vicious-minds-abound-with-anger-and-revenge-and-are-incapable/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-lunden/forgiveness-gives-you-back-the-laughter-and-the-lightness-in-your-life/) [Joan Lunden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-lunden/) > [Forgiveness saves the expense of anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/forgiveness-saves-the-expense-of-anger/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Don't let the sun go down on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/don-t-let-the-sun-go-down-on-me/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I was taught to be Biblical: “Forgive them for they know not what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-was-taught-to-be-biblical-forgive-them-for-they-know-not-what-they/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Keep in mind, hurting people often hurt other people as a result of their own pain. If somebody is rude and inconsiderate, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/keep-in-mind-hurting-people-often-hurt-other-people-as-a-result-of-2/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [A grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-walton/a-grudge-is-like-being-stung-to-death-by-one-bee/) [William Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-walton/) > [In fact, not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/in-fact-not-forgiving-is-like-drinking-rat-poison-and-then-waiting/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 11 Anger and forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-and-forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Ward Beecher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-only-another-way-of-saying-i-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger and forgiveness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-only-another-way-of-saying-i-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/henry-ward-beecher-175_anger-and-forgivenes_i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-onl_2173048.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can forgive, but I cannot forget,” is only another way of saying, “I will not forgive.” — Henry Ward Beecher", "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": "Henry Ward Beecher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I can forgive, but I cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-only-another-way-of-saying-i-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-can-forgive-but-i-cannot-forget-is-only-another-way-of-saying-i-3/#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 } } ] } ```