--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remorse is impotence, impotence which…" description: "\"Remorse is impotence, impotence which sins again. Repentance alone is powerful; it ends all.\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/honor-de-balzac-197_ends_remorse-is-impotence-impotence-which-sin_2652499.png" --- # Remorse is impotence, impotence which sins again… ![“Remorse is impotence, impotence which sins again. Repentance alone is powerful; it ends all.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/honor-de-balzac-197_ends_remorse-is-impotence-impotence-which-sin_2652499.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/honor-de-balzac-197_ends_remorse-is-impotence-impotence-which-sin_2652499.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/honor-de-balzac-197_ends_remorse-is-impotence-impotence-which-sin_2652499.png) > “Remorse is impotence, impotence which sins again. Repentance alone is powerful; it ends all.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Remorse incapacitates us, while repentance restores power and ends suffering. **In simple terms:** Remorse weakens; repentance heals. Key Takeaway Choose repentance over lingering guilt. Themes remorse repentance power Mood reflective hopeful Type literary spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - confession Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from repentance? - How does forgiveness change your life? A Different Perspective Remorse can become chronic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Impotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impotence/) [Impotence Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impotence-sins-2361975/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Remorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remorse/) [Remorse Impotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remorse-impotence-2361974/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins-repentance-531725/) ## Related quotes > [Remorse is impotence; it will sin again. Only repentance is strong - it can end everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/remorse-is-impotence-it-will-sin-again-only-repentance-is-strong-it/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“God's Grace is greater than all our sins. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-grace-is-greater-than-all-our-sins-repentance-is-one-of-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [This is a key point which the secularists are missing: they think that stressing God's mercy means that sins are no longer sins. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/this-is-a-key-point-which-the-secularists-are-missing-they-think-that/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [“There is only one thing to do when you meet the Living God; you must fall on your face and repent of your sins.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-rosaria-butterfield-syracuse-university-former-lesbian-activist/there-is-only-one-thing-to-do-when-you-meet-the-living-god-you-must/) [Dr. Rosaria Butterfield Syracuse University Former Lesbian Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-rosaria-butterfield-syracuse-university-former-lesbian-activist/) > [Repentance is being sorry enough to quit your sin. You will never know the forgiving mercy of God while you are still wedded to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-martin/repentance-is-being-sorry-enough-to-quit-your-sin-you-will-never-know/) [Albert Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-martin/) > [The saints were people like all of us. Many of them came out of great sins, but by repentance they attained the Kingdom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/the-saints-were-people-like-all-of-us-many-of-them-came-out-of-great/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [“There is an eternal difference between regret and repentance. Regret feels bad about past sins. Repentance turns away from past sins. Regret looks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-an-eternal-difference-between-regret-and-repentance-regret/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“People need to let go of their own sins through repentance, and the sins of others through forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-blai/people-need-to-let-go-of-their-own-sins-through-repentance-and-the/) [Adam Blai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-blai/) > [To lese-majeste and contempt of court, we must add the crime of lese-million, that fearful indignity we visit on the rich when we expose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/to-lese-majeste-and-contempt-of-court-we-must-add-the-crime-of-lese/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a feeling of genuine remorse in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishment-arouses-real-repentance-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Repentance is a shower for a soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/repentance-is-a-shower-for-a-soul/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“Daddy thinks history starts fresh every day, every minute, that time itself begins with the feelings he’s having right now. That’s how he keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/daddy-thinks-history-starts-fresh-every-day-every-minute-that-time/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [There is no refuge from memory and remorse in this world. The spirits of our foolish deeds haunt us, with or without repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/there-is-no-refuge-from-memory-and-remorse-in-this-world-the-spirits/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [Repentance, as we know, is basically not moaning and remorse, but turning and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/repentance-as-we-know-is-basically-not-moaning-and-remorse-but/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [There's a difference between remorse and repentance. Remorse is being sorry for being caught. Repentance is being sorry enough to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-laurie/there-s-a-difference-between-remorse-and-repentance-remorse-is-being/) [Greg Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-laurie/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. 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