--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... Papa's always had the ability to…" description: "\"“... Papa's always had the ability to remember the good things and let the bad ones go.\" \"Not a bad ability.\" \"... I'm not sure. I think we have to rem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/madeleine-l-engle-345_forgiveness_papa-s-always-had-the-ability-to-remembe_876979.png" --- # ... Papa's always had the ability to remember the good… ![“... Papa's always had the ability to remember the good things and let the bad ones go." "Not a bad ability." "... I'm not sure. I think we have to remember it all before we can forgive it.” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/madeleine-l-engle-345_forgiveness_papa-s-always-had-the-ability-to-remembe_876979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/madeleine-l-engle-345_forgiveness_papa-s-always-had-the-ability-to-remembe_876979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/madeleine-l-engle-345_forgiveness_papa-s-always-had-the-ability-to-remembe_876979.png) > ““... Papa's always had the ability to remember the good things and let the bad ones go." "Not a bad ability." "... I'm not sure. I think we have to remember it all before we can forgive it.”” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Remembering good moments while releasing the bad is a skill that helps us process experiences and move toward forgiveness. **In simple terms:** Keep the good, let go of the bad. Key Takeaway Practice selective memory for healing. Themes memory forgiveness growth resilience Mood hopeful thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - conflict resolution - journaling Key Concepts cognitive reframing emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What bad memories do you need to release? - How can you honor the good while letting go? A Different Perspective May overlook important lessons by discarding all bad memories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) ## Related quotes > [One of the blessings human beings take for granted is the ability to remember pain without re-feeling it. The pain of the physical wounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-of-the-blessings-human-beings-take-for-granted-is-the-ability-to/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [If human beings are immortal, so are animals. 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Always forgive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-flores/you-have-to-take-the-good-with-the-bad-smile-with-the-sad-love-what/) [Frida Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-flores/) > [We have to remember, when we forgive we're not doing it just for the other person, we're doing it for our own good. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/we-have-to-remember-when-we-forgive-we-re-not-doing-it-just-for-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Some forgive and forget, more forgive and remember, most forgive and remind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/some-forgive-and-forget-more-forgive-and-remember-most-forgive-and/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [You're supposed to remember, and still forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-burke/you-re-supposed-to-remember-and-still-forgive/) [Delta Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-burke/) ## More by Madeleine L'Engle > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/inspiration-more-often-comes-during-the-work-than-before-it-because/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-have-to-write-the-book-that-wants-to-be-written-and-if-the-book/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Severe illness isolates those in close contact with it, because it inevitably narrows the focus of concern. To a certain extent this can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/severe-illness-isolates-those-in-close-contact-with-it-because-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Goodness has never been a guarantee of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/goodness-has-never-been-a-guarantee-of-safety/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/instead-of-rejoicing-in-this-glorious-impossible-which-gives-meaning/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-have-never-lived-before-until-this-summer-i-did-not-know-what-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [On the other side of pain, there is still love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/on-the-other-side-of-pain-there-is-still-love/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“To love is to be vulnerable; and it is only in vulnerability and risk—not safety and security—that we overcome darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-and-it-is-only-in-vulnerability-and-risk/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“IT was the most horrible, the most repellent thing she had ever seen, far more nauseating then anything she had ever imagined with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-was-the-most-horrible-the-most-repellent-thing-she-had-ever-seen/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I feel as though I'm not breathing when I'm out of his presence. He's the oxygen in my air, the sun in my universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-feel-as-though-i-m-not-breathing-when-i-m-out-of-his-presence-he-s/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [My husband is my most ruthless critic... sometimes he will say, 'It's been said better before.' Of course it has. It's all been said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/my-husband-is-my-most-ruthless-critic-sometimes-he-will-say-it-s-been/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [If we aren't capable of being hurt we aren't capable of feeling joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-we-aren-t-capable-of-being-hurt-we-aren-t-capable-of-feeling-joy/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Explore all 660 Madeleine L'Engle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More Forgiveness quotes > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“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 > [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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That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/) [Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Have an open mind and heart. 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