--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever…" description: "\"Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever looking to the past.\" — Letitia Elizabeth Landon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg" --- # Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever looking to the past. ![“Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever looking to the past.” quote by Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg) > “Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever looking to the past.” [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repentance looks both backward at past deeds and forward to possible change, yet can be two‑sided. **In simple terms:** Repentance reflects on past and future, but can be conflicted. Key Takeaway Recognize both past errors and future hope. Themes reflection redemption duality Mood reflective hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal regret - spiritual practice - ethical decision‑making - counseling Key Concepts psychology moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does looking back hinder or help progress? - Can one truly change without confronting the past? A Different Perspective May ignore the difficulty of genuine change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Janus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/janus/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“You don’t see much of any path unless you are Janus, looking simultaneously backward and forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/you-don-t-see-much-of-any-path-unless-you-are-janus-looking/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [ I know \[my label\], in any case: a double face, a charming Janus, and underneath, the house motto: "Be wary". On my business cards:"Jean-Baptiste… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-know-my-label-in-any-case-a-double-face-a-charming-janus-and/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Janus nods. “We’re haggling over two issues. A yearly subscription. It’s a pig in a poke. Two pigs.” “In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-petrosyan/janus-nods-we-re-haggling-over-two-issues-a-yearly-subscription-it-s/) [Mariam Petrosyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-petrosyan/) > [Antiquity! thou wondrous charm, what art thou? that being nothing art everything? When thou wert, thou wert not antiquity - then thou wert nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/antiquity-thou-wondrous-charm-what-art-thou-that-being-nothing-art/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“Rape we all know is the easiest charge to make and most difficult to prove,” Wura paused and sighed again “But with Justice Janus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/rape-we-all-know-is-the-easiest-charge-to-make-and-most-difficult-to/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [“He can't die! He's the bloody King of Winter." "Don't be absurd," said Bob, rolling an eye at the wounded Janus. "Just because he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-livingston/he-can-t-die-he-s-the-bloody-king-of-winter-don-t-be-absurd-said-bob/) [Lesley Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-livingston/) > [A friend is Janus-faced: he looks to the past and the future. He is the child of all my foregoing hours, the prophet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-friend-is-janus-faced-he-looks-to-the-past-and-the-future-he-is-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Jonah peered critically up at the Renaissance masterpiece. "Man, those copies don't due it justice. This one's the truth!" "Only a Janus," groaned Hamilton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/jonah-peered-critically-up-at-the-renaissance-masterpiece-man-those/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [“If I’d found out that Norman Mailer liked me, I’d have killed myself. I think he was too hung up. I’m glad Kurt Vonnegut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-i-d-found-out-that-norman-mailer-liked-me-i-d-have-killed-myself-i/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I prefer to see myself as the Janus, the two-faced god who is half Pollyanna and half Cassandra, warning of the future and perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-prefer-to-see-myself-as-the-janus-the-two-faced-god-who-is-half/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Everything is bilateral in the domain of thought. Ideas are binary. Janus is the myth of criticism and the symbol of genius. Only God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/everything-is-bilateral-in-the-domain-of-thought-ideas-are-binary/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“Let us see rather that like Janus—or better, like Yama, the Brahmin god of death—religion has two faces, one very friendly, one very gloomy...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/let-us-see-rather-that-like-janus-or-better-like-yama-the-brahmin-god/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“For reasons I have yet to define, Signor Arpelli stood out from his colleagues. The curled brim of his hat, perhaps. A certain mingling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-bayard/for-reasons-i-have-yet-to-define-signor-arpelli-stood-out-from-his/) [Louis Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-bayard/) > [It is a curious emotion, this certain homesickness I have in mind. With Americans, it is a national trait, as native to us as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/it-is-a-curious-emotion-this-certain-homesickness-i-have-in-mind-with/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [Entropy is Janus-faced. Its upside surprises are redemptive and favorable to freedom. It is freedom of choice. But the carrier itself requires constant vigilance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gilder/entropy-is-janus-faced-its-upside-surprises-are-redemptive-and/) [George Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gilder/) ## More by Letitia Elizabeth Landon > [The very effort to forget teaches us to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-very-effort-to-forget-teaches-us-to-remember/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Imagination is to love what gas is to the balloon-that which raises it from earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/imagination-is-to-love-what-gas-is-to-the-balloon-that-which-raises/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [I think hearts are very much like glasses. If they do not break with the first ring, they usually last a considerable time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/i-think-hearts-are-very-much-like-glasses-if-they-do-not-break-with/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [the fact is, that life is too short to be occupied by aught but the present - hope and remembrance are equally a waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-fact-is-that-life-is-too-short-to-be-occupied-by-aught-but-the/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [There is no existence so content as that whose present is engrossed by employment, and whose future is filled by some strong hope, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-no-existence-so-content-as-that-whose-present-is-engrossed/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Curiosity is its own suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/curiosity-is-its-own-suicide/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Curiosity and courtesy are very often at variance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/curiosity-and-courtesy-are-very-often-at-variance/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [No thoroughly occupied man was ever yet very miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/no-thoroughly-occupied-man-was-ever-yet-very-miserable/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Toil is the portion of day, as sleep is that of night; but if there be one hour of the twenty-four which has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/toil-is-the-portion-of-day-as-sleep-is-that-of-night-but-if-there-be/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Consistency is a human word, but it certainly expresses nothing human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/consistency-is-a-human-word-but-it-certainly-expresses-nothing-human/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Shopping, true feminine felicity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/shopping-true-feminine-felicity/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [We would liken music to Aladdin's lamp — worthless in itself, not so for the spirits which obey its call. We love it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/we-would-liken-music-to-aladdin-s-lamp-worthless-in-itself-not-so-for/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [There is a large stock on hand; but somehow or other, nobody's experience ever suits us but our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-a-large-stock-on-hand-but-somehow-or-other-nobody-s/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [habit is our idea of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/habit-is-our-idea-of-eternity/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) [Explore all 168 Letitia Elizabeth Landon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) ## More Janus quotes > [ I know \[my label\], in any case: a double face, a charming Janus, and underneath, the house motto: "Be wary". On my business cards:"Jean-Baptiste… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-know-my-label-in-any-case-a-double-face-a-charming-janus-and/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It is a curious emotion, this certain homesickness I have in mind. With Americans, it is a national trait, as native to us as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/it-is-a-curious-emotion-this-certain-homesickness-i-have-in-mind-with/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“For reasons I have yet to define, Signor Arpelli stood out from his colleagues. The curled brim of his hat, perhaps. A certain mingling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-bayard/for-reasons-i-have-yet-to-define-signor-arpelli-stood-out-from-his/) [Louis Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-bayard/) > [“Let us see rather that like Janus—or better, like Yama, the Brahmin god of death—religion has two faces, one very friendly, one very gloomy...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/let-us-see-rather-that-like-janus-or-better-like-yama-the-brahmin-god/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Everything is bilateral in the domain of thought. Ideas are binary. Janus is the myth of criticism and the symbol of genius. Only God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/everything-is-bilateral-in-the-domain-of-thought-ideas-are-binary/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I prefer to see myself as the Janus, the two-faced god who is half Pollyanna and half Cassandra, warning of the future and perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-prefer-to-see-myself-as-the-janus-the-two-faced-god-who-is-half/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You don’t see much of any path unless you are Janus, looking simultaneously backward and forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/you-don-t-see-much-of-any-path-unless-you-are-janus-looking/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“If I’d found out that Norman Mailer liked me, I’d have killed myself. I think he was too hung up. I’m glad Kurt Vonnegut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-i-d-found-out-that-norman-mailer-liked-me-i-d-have-killed-myself-i/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Jonah peered critically up at the Renaissance masterpiece. "Man, those copies don't due it justice. This one's the truth!" "Only a Janus," groaned Hamilton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/jonah-peered-critically-up-at-the-renaissance-masterpiece-man-those/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [A friend is Janus-faced: he looks to the past and the future. He is the child of all my foregoing hours, the prophet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-friend-is-janus-faced-he-looks-to-the-past-and-the-future-he-is-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“He can't die! He's the bloody King of Winter." "Don't be absurd," said Bob, rolling an eye at the wounded Janus. "Just because he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-livingston/he-can-t-die-he-s-the-bloody-king-of-winter-don-t-be-absurd-said-bob/) [Lesley Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-livingston/) > [“Rape we all know is the easiest charge to make and most difficult to prove,” Wura paused and sighed again “But with Justice Janus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/rape-we-all-know-is-the-easiest-charge-to-make-and-most-difficult-to/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [Antiquity! thou wondrous charm, what art thou? that being nothing art everything? When thou wert, thou wert not antiquity - then thou wert nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/antiquity-thou-wondrous-charm-what-art-thou-that-being-nothing-art/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“Janus nods. “We’re haggling over two issues. A yearly subscription. It’s a pig in a poke. Two pigs.” “In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-petrosyan/janus-nods-we-re-haggling-over-two-issues-a-yearly-subscription-it-s/) [Mariam Petrosyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-petrosyan/) > [Entropy is Janus-faced. Its upside surprises are redemptive and favorable to freedom. It is freedom of choice. But the carrier itself requires constant vigilance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gilder/entropy-is-janus-faced-its-upside-surprises-are-redemptive-and/) [George Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gilder/) [Browse all 20 Janus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/janus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever looking to the past.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Letitia Elizabeth Landon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-looking-to-the-past/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Janus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-looking-to-the-past/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_janus_repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-loo_3109253.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever looking to the past.” — Letitia Elizabeth Landon", "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": "Letitia Elizabeth Landon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Repentance is a one-faced Janus, ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-looking-to-the-past/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/repentance-is-a-one-faced-janus-ever-looking-to-the-past/#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 } } ] } ```