--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It…" description: "\"Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude. That which I was not but could have been. That which I would have done but did not do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/martin-luther-king-jr-127_attitude_forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it_1385866.png" --- # Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent… ![“Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude. That which I was not but could have been. That which I would have done but did not do. Can I find the fortitude to remember in truth,to understand, to submit, to forgive and to be free to move on in time?” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/martin-luther-king-jr-127_attitude_forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it_1385866.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/martin-luther-king-jr-127_attitude_forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it_1385866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/martin-luther-king-jr-127_attitude_forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it_1385866.png) > “Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude. That which I was not but could have been. That which I would have done but did not do. Can I find the fortitude to remember in truth,to understand, to submit, to forgive and to be free to move on in time?” [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness is a lasting mindset, not a one‑off deed; it requires ongoing humility and courage. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness is a permanent attitude. Key Takeaway Adopt forgiveness as a daily practice. Themes forgiveness humility resilience Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal trauma - family disputes - social justice movements - reconciliation processes Key Concepts psychology spirituality conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate lasting forgiveness? - What obstacles block your forgiveness? A Different Perspective May be difficult when harm is severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Fortitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortitude/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sutter/forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it-is-a-permanent-attitude/) [Rick Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sutter/) > [Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it-is-a-constant-attitude/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Non-violence is a permanent attitude we bring to the breakfast table and bring to bed at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/non-violence-is-a-permanent-attitude-we-bring-to-the-breakfast-table/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Forgiveness is not an occassional act; it is a permanent attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/forgiveness-is-not-an-occassional-act-it-is-a-permanent-attitude/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [“Miracle Message #16: “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #MiraclesNow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/miracle-message-16-forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it-is-a/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Forgiveness is not an occasional act: it is an attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-not-an-occasional-act-it-is-an-attitude/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Carrying a grudge is difficult work that brings nothing of value. Forgive, and be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/carrying-a-grudge-is-difficult-work-that-brings-nothing-of-value/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [You can work on healing, uplifting, and changing situations from a place of forgiveness, instead of from a place of resentment. Forgive yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/you-can-work-on-healing-uplifting-and-changing-situations-from-a/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [“Forgiveness is a process that we have to learn to act upon daily. Anger is weakened by forgiveness. When you forgive, you free yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-yen-a-gardner/forgiveness-is-a-process-that-we-have-to-learn-to-act-upon-daily/) [E'yen A. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-yen-a-gardner/) > [“When you forgive yourself, you free yourself from memories which aren’t serving you anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hina-hashmi/when-you-forgive-yourself-you-free-yourself-from-memories-which-aren/) [Hina Hashmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hina-hashmi/) > [“To forgive, one must love and be loved. Only those who forgive can be free. Whoever forgives is a prisoner no more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-philipp-sendker/to-forgive-one-must-love-and-be-loved-only-those-who-forgive-can-be/) [Jan-Philipp Sendker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-philipp-sendker/) > [Forgiveness makes you feel better. As soon as you forgive, you're free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/forgiveness-makes-you-feel-better-as-soon-as-you-forgive-you-re-free/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [Free your heart from hatred - forgive. Free your mind from worries - most never happen. Live simply and appreciate what you have. Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/free-your-heart-from-hatred-forgive-free-your-mind-from-worries-most/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Forgive and be free. Forget that you have forgiven and be freer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/forgive-and-be-free-forget-that-you-have-forgiven-and-be-freer/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“When we forgive, we free ourselves from the bitter ties that bind us to the one who hurt us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/when-we-forgive-we-free-ourselves-from-the-bitter-ties-that-bind-us/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) ## More by Martin Luther King, Jr > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I’ve been to the Mountaintop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-ve-been-to-the-mountaintop/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-supreme-task-is-to-organize-and-unite-people-so-that-their-anger/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The great issue of life is to harness the drum major instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-great-issue-of-life-is-to-harness-the-drum-major-instinct/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-must-have-sense-enough-and-morality-enough-to-cut-off-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whenever-you-are-engaged-in-work-that-serves-humanity-and-is-for-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-even-the-state-of-mississippi-a-desert/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Explore all 1,210 Martin Luther King, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude. That which I was not but could have been. That which I would have done but did not do. 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