--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is so much less exhausting. You only…" description: "\"“It is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/m-l-stedman-2-35592_bad-thing_it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-h_902837.jpg" --- # It is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive… ![“It is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things ... I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount ... No ... we always have a…” quote by M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/m-l-stedman-2-35592_bad-thing_it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-h_902837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/m-l-stedman-2-35592_bad-thing_it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-h_902837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/m-l-stedman-2-35592_bad-thing_it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-h_902837.jpg) > ““It is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things ... I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount ... No ... we always have a choice. All of us.”” [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness frees you from endless resentment; choosing forgiveness is a daily decision. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness ends endless resentment. Key Takeaway Choose forgiveness daily to reduce resentment. Themes forgiveness choice emotional freedom mindfulness Mood thoughtful calming Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stress reduction - relationship counseling - mindfulness meditation - daily gratitude practice - conflict de‑escalation Key Concepts behavioral psychology habit formation moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What makes forgiveness feel impossible? - How can you practice forgiveness without denying pain? A Different Perspective Resentment can feel justified when injustice is severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Burdens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burdens/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/oh-but-my-treasure-it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-have-to/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“But how? How can you just get over these things, darling?...You've had so much strife but you're always happy. How do you do it?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/but-how-how-can-you-just-get-over-these-things-darling-you-ve-had-so/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/you-only-have-to-forgive-once-to-resent-you-have-to-do-it-all-day-2/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“Or I can forgive and forget...Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/or-i-can-forgive-and-forget-oh-but-my-treasure-it-is-so-much-less/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [“I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened, like my father did, or I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/i-can-leave-myself-to-rot-in-the-past-spend-my-time-hating-people-for/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [“I can forgive and forget... it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/i-can-forgive-and-forget-it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-have/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [“You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/you-only-have-to-forgive-once-to-resent-you-have-to-do-it-all-day-4/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [“You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/you-only-have-to-forgive-once-to-resent-you-have-to-do-it-all-day/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-only-have-to-forgive-once-to-resent-you-have-to-do-it-all-day-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lest it sound as if I resent my day job, I have to say that my day job is the reason I write, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/lest-it-sound-as-if-i-resent-my-day-job-i-have-to-say-that-my-day-job/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Many who take up burdens come to resent being put upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/many-who-take-up-burdens-come-to-resent-being-put-upon/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“There are some lives He brings into this world neither to do great work nor to bear great burdens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-b-e-cowman/there-are-some-lives-he-brings-into-this-world-neither-to-do-great/) [L. B. E. Cowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-b-e-cowman/) > [“Don't be too eager to rid yourself of your burdens. Your burdens are what shape you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-scott-savage/don-t-be-too-eager-to-rid-yourself-of-your-burdens-your-burdens-are/) [J. Scott Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-scott-savage/) > [“But, Marcie had reminded herself, I don’t know the weight of anyone else’s burdens—only my own. She didn’t judge. She didn’t feel smart or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/but-marcie-had-reminded-herself-i-don-t-know-the-weight-of-anyone/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“But surely even heroes weary lugging around the burdens of their heroism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-trumble/but-surely-even-heroes-weary-lugging-around-the-burdens-of-their/) [J.H. Trumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-trumble/) ## More by M. L. Stedman > [“You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/you-only-have-to-forgive-once-to-resent-you-have-to-do-it-all-day-2/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/oh-but-my-treasure-it-is-so-much-less-exhausting-you-only-have-to/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“But how? How can you just get over these things, darling?...You've had so much strife but you're always happy. How do you do it?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/but-how-how-can-you-just-get-over-these-things-darling-you-ve-had-so/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“I promised to spend my life with you. I still want to spend my life with you. Izz, I've learned the hard way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/i-promised-to-spend-my-life-with-you-i-still-want-to-spend-my-life/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“Izz, I've learned the hard way that to have any kind of a future you've got to give up hope of ever changing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/izz-i-ve-learned-the-hard-way-that-to-have-any-kind-of-a-future-you/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“Sometimes the contract to forget is as important as any promise to remember”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/sometimes-the-contract-to-forget-is-as-important-as-any-promise-to/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [Such a mysterious business, motherhood. How brave a woman must be to embark on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/such-a-mysterious-business-motherhood-how-brave-a-woman-must-be-to/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [To have any kind of a future you've got to give up hope of ever changing your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/to-have-any-kind-of-a-future-you-ve-got-to-give-up-hope-of-ever/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“That was the only thing that had got him through the four years of blood and madness: Know exactly where your gun is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/that-was-the-only-thing-that-had-got-him-through-the-four-years-of/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“Fella upstairs's given you a second chance, so I reckon he's not too fussed about whatever you did or didn't do back then. Stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/fella-upstairs-s-given-you-a-second-chance-so-i-reckon-he-s-not-too/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [“Love's what children do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/love-s-what-children-do/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) > [We live with the decisions we makeThat’s what bravery is. Standing by the consequences of your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-2/we-live-with-the-decisions-we-makethat-s-what-bravery-is-standing-by/) [M. L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) [Explore all 13 M. L. Stedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman-2/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. 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Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things ... I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount ... No ... we always have a choice. All of us.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M. L. 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