--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I have the power to forgive." description: "\"I don't think I have the power to forgive.\" — Hugh Masekela" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png" --- # I don't think I have the power to forgive. ![“I don't think I have the power to forgive.” quote by Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png) > “I don't think I have the power to forgive.” [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness feels beyond personal power; it may require external support. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness feels hard. Key Takeaway Seek help to forgive. Themes healing forgiveness powerlessness Mood reflective somber Type interview motivational When to use this quote - counseling - conflict resolution - artistic expression - relationships Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What blocks your forgiveness? - Who can support you? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be a prolonged process. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-forgive-241736/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-power/) ## Related quotes > [He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/he-who-is-devoid-of-the-power-to-forgive-is-devoid-of-the-power-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [You have a tremendous advantage over the man who does you an injury: You have it within your power to forgive him, while he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-have-a-tremendous-advantage-over-the-man-who-does-you-an-injury/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“No heavenly power will forgive us now for wasting the dawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/no-heavenly-power-will-forgive-us-now-for-wasting-the-dawn/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Take up your pallet and walk'?" Ouch. Few of us have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-consolmagno/is-it-easier-to-say-your-sins-are-forgiven-or-to-say-take-up-your/) [Guy Consolmagno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-consolmagno/) > [If you judge yourself, if you cannot forgive yourself, you can go to meet Jesus in the priest. In the name to the Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meicee/if-you-judge-yourself-if-you-cannot-forgive-yourself-you-can-go-to/) [Meicee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meicee/) > [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/) > [“Always remember you have been given the power to forgive any offense, and in so doing, remove it from your awareness as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/always-remember-you-have-been-given-the-power-to-forgive-any-offense/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [When you tame and domesticate the divine it loses its danger and it's power to forgive you, make you happy, or its power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-donohue/when-you-tame-and-domesticate-the-divine-it-loses-its-danger-and-it-s/) [John O'Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-donohue/) > [“It would indeed be blasphemy for any man to claim that he had power in himself to forgive sins. If he can have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-gerberding/it-would-indeed-be-blasphemy-for-any-man-to-claim-that-he-had-power/) [G.H. Gerberding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-gerberding/) > [He couldn't even tell whether he was angry or contrite, whether it was forgiveness he wanted or the power to forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/he-couldn-t-even-tell-whether-he-was-angry-or-contrite-whether-it-was/) [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) > [Anyone Who Is Devoid Of The Power To Forgive, Is Devoid Of The Power To Love...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/anyone-who-is-devoid-of-the-power-to-forgive-is-devoid-of-the-power/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [When somebody hurts you, they take power over you - if you don't forgive them then they keep the power. Forgive them and after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-somebody-hurts-you-they-take-power-over-you-if-you-don-t-forgive/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [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/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Love grants us the power to forgive, to love when we’re hurt, but it also gives us the courage to let go, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-reed/love-grants-us-the-power-to-forgive-to-love-when-we-re-hurt-but-it/) [J.C. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-reed/) > [“following passage from St. Chrysostom (+ 407) has become a veritable classic : " The dispensation of the things that are in heaven God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/following-passage-from-st-chrysostom-407-has-become-a-veritable/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) ## More by Hugh Masekela > [In some townships, political parties are run by thugs financed from Cape Town. If we don't have support of the police, we can not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-some-townships-political-parties-are-run-by-thugs-financed-from/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I've got to where am in life not because of something I brought to the world but through something I found - the wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-ve-got-to-where-am-in-life-not-because-of-something-i-brought-to/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [It's obvious that the rest of the world loves high African culture - African culture, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/it-s-obvious-that-the-rest-of-the-world-loves-high-african-culture/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I got possessed by music as an infant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-got-possessed-by-music-as-an-infant/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I couldn't get away from the gramophone. It was the only thing that I ever really liked, and I was singing along by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-couldn-t-get-away-from-the-gramophone-it-was-the-only-thing-that-i/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I live a very enjoyable life. I understand what moderation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-live-a-very-enjoyable-life-i-understand-what-moderation-is/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [Africa has been troubled for a long time - well, the world has been troubled ever since I was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/africa-has-been-troubled-for-a-long-time-well-the-world-has-been/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I don't think any musician ever thinks about making a statement. I think everybody goes into music loving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-don-t-think-any-musician-ever-thinks-about-making-a-statement-i/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [One of the greatest things that could really happen to Africa is for us to get rid of the borders and for the leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/one-of-the-greatest-things-that-could-really-happen-to-africa-is-for/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I started playing the piano when I was 6 years old 'cause my folks tried to get me away from the gramophone. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-started-playing-the-piano-when-i-was-6-years-old-cause-my-folks/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I just came from South Africa, a place that had been in a perpetual uprising since 1653, so the uprising had become a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-just-came-from-south-africa-a-place-that-had-been-in-a-perpetual/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I have a major respect for nature. I'm an environmentalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-have-a-major-respect-for-nature-i-m-an-environmentalist/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [Corruption is everywhere, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/corruption-is-everywhere-man/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [Mandela was chosen as a symbol of the South African struggle, and he did that great. But I wasn't just happy for him. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/mandela-was-chosen-as-a-symbol-of-the-south-african-struggle-and-he/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I am a forward-looking person and live in the moment to build for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-am-a-forward-looking-person-and-live-in-the-moment-to-build-for-the/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) [Explore all 50 Hugh Masekela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) ## More Forgive quotes > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) [Serge Kahili King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-kahili-king/) > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [Im so sorry,i screwed up again.i didnt meant hurting you.please,forgive me,again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redeyeen/im-so-sorry-i-screwed-up-again-i-didnt-meant-hurting-you-please/) [Redeyeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redeyeen/) > [“He fell back. He had cried out so loud that even if there had been no breach in the wall, I should have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/he-fell-back-he-had-cried-out-so-loud-that-even-if-there-had-been-no/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Ive learned¦ that no matter how good a friend is, theyre going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-no-matter-how-good-a-friend-is-theyre-going-to-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“By choosing to forgive, you are choosing to love. By choosing to operate in love, you are choosing to operate in an unconditional state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-watterson/by-choosing-to-forgive-you-are-choosing-to-love-by-choosing-to/) [Eric Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-watterson/) > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) [Browse all 3,381 Forgive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I have the power to forgive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Masekela" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forgive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/hugh-masekela-13534_forgive_i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgiv_2646051.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I have the power to forgive.” — Hugh Masekela", "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": "Hugh Masekela", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think I have the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-don-t-think-i-have-the-power-to-forgive/#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 } } ] } ```