--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever we forgive, in small ways at…" description: "\"Whenever we forgive, in small ways at home, or in great ways between nations, we free ourselves from the past.\" — Jack Kornfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/jack-kornfield-936_forgive_whenever-we-forgive-in-small-ways-at-hom_885198.png" --- # Whenever we forgive, in small ways at home, or in great… ![“Whenever we forgive, in small ways at home, or in great ways between nations, we free ourselves from the past.” quote by Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/jack-kornfield-936_forgive_whenever-we-forgive-in-small-ways-at-hom_885198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/jack-kornfield-936_forgive_whenever-we-forgive-in-small-ways-at-hom_885198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/jack-kornfield-936_forgive_whenever-we-forgive-in-small-ways-at-hom_885198.png) > “Whenever we forgive, in small ways at home, or in great ways between nations, we free ourselves from the past.” [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness releases personal burden, allowing individuals and societies to move beyond past grievances. **In simple terms:** Letting go of grudges frees us. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness regularly. Themes forgiveness healing peace Mood reflective calm Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - family disputes - international diplomacy - personal trauma - reconciliation Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What grudges are you holding? - How can you start forgiving today? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may be difficult when the offense is severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgive Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-small-1092174/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Free Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-past-1009056/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Small Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-ways-345610/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Ways Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways-home-1092175/) ## Related quotes > [Never allow or let one mistake make you forget about all the times someone did show you how caring she/he is. 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Meredith Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-meredith-walters/) > [“So the small things came into their own: small acts of helping others, if one could; small ways of making one's own life better:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/so-the-small-things-came-into-their-own-small-acts-of-helping-others/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [The spirit of delight comes in small ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/the-spirit-of-delight-comes-in-small-ways/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Let yourself be enchanted in small ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/let-yourself-be-enchanted-in-small-ways/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miep-gies/but-even-an-ordinary-secretary-or-a-housewife-or-a-teenager-can/) [Miep Gies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miep-gies/) > [We need to take a breath and find big ways and small ways to get active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-need-to-take-a-breath-and-find-big-ways-and-small-ways-to-get/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [The right way to build a company is to experiment in lots of small ways, so that you have plenty of room to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/the-right-way-to-build-a-company-is-to-experiment-in-lots-of-small/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [What I do isn't radical. 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What one has to learn is how to remember and yet be free of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-isn-t-a-matter-of-forgetting-what-one-has-to-learn-is-how-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More by Jack Kornfield > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [In opening we can see how many times we have mistaken small identities and fearful beliefs for our true nature and how limiting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-opening-we-can-see-how-many-times-we-have-mistaken-small/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wherever-you-are-is-the-perfect-place-to-awaken-this-moment-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Acceptance does not mean inaction. We may need to respond, strongly at times...From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. 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We have to respect that it will grow gradually; otherwise our spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/for-most-of-us-generosity-is-a-quality-that-must-be-developed-we-have/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. 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Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wisdom-says-we-are-nothing-love-says-we-are-everything-between-these/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Breathing meditation can quiet the mind, open the body, and develop a great power of concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/breathing-meditation-can-quiet-the-mind-open-the-body-and-develop-a/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) [Explore all 324 Jack Kornfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## 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. 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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. 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