--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if I want I cannot make you say…" description: "\"Even if I want I cannot make you say sorry to God.\" — Mother Teresa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg" --- # Even if I want I cannot make you say sorry to God. ![“Even if I want I cannot make you say sorry to God.” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg) > “Even if I want I cannot make you say sorry to God.” [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One cannot force others to apologize to a higher power; repentance must be voluntary. **In simple terms:** Apology to God must be sincere, not forced. Key Takeaway Respect personal spiritual agency. Themes faith humility volition spirituality Mood compassionate serene thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - counseling - conflict mediation Key Concepts free will compassion religion Questions to Reflect On - What encourages genuine contrition? - How do you support others without imposing belief? A Different Perspective Forcing repentance can breed resentment and insincerity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Make Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-say-923358/) [Say Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-sorry/) [Saying sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-sorry/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Sorry God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry-god-1502116/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Avant-garde means never having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/avant-garde-means-never-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) > [I say sorry to my wife about five times a day for various reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-say-sorry-to-my-wife-about-five-times-a-day-for-various-reasons/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I always get shy, socially inhibited and fear expressing my every thankyou and sorry to God, because I feel it just isn't good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-parkin/i-always-get-shy-socially-inhibited-and-fear-expressing-my-every/) [Sophie Parkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-parkin/) > [Sorry, mom. Sorry, God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sorry-mom-sorry-god/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Sorry if God didn't make me beautiful or pretty in your eyes. I'm perfect in His,and that's all that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-if-god-didn-t-make-me-beautiful-or-pretty-in-your-eyes-i-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then I realised that I was the god on this occasion. I had tried to help the bluebottle, but it wouldn't let me. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/then-i-realised-that-i-was-the-god-on-this-occasion-i-had-tried-to/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [They say that kings are made in the image of God. If that is what he looks like, I feel sorry for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-ii-holy-roman-emperor/they-say-that-kings-are-made-in-the-image-of-god-if-that-is-what-he/) [Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-ii-holy-roman-emperor/) > [Sometimes we have to say I'm sorry even when we've done nothing wrong. You may find yourself immersed in a conflict with someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/06-july/sometimes-we-have-to-say-i-m-sorry-even-when-we-ve-done-nothing-wrong/) [06 July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/06-july/) > [Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes. You say sorry just for show. You live like that, you live with ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/band-aids-don-t-fix-bullet-holes-you-say-sorry-just-for-show-you-live/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Are we going to say sorry for our lack of customer service? Absolutely not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-leary/are-we-going-to-say-sorry-for-our-lack-of-customer-service-absolutely/) [Michael O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-leary/) > [“Why do women say "I'm sorry" so much? One of my favorite self-love sermons is this: Resist saying 'I'm sorry' so often. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiola-abrams/why-do-women-say-i-m-sorry-so-much-one-of-my-favorite-self-love/) [Abiola Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiola-abrams/) > [You can always say sorry but the real apology is when you hear the sadness in their voice and see the look in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/you-can-always-say-sorry-but-the-real-apology-is-when-you-hear-the/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [Say sorry if you are aware that you are wrong and be sorry for doing that thing to him/her,don't let your pride be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeramae-panabia/say-sorry-if-you-are-aware-that-you-are-wrong-and-be-sorry-for-doing/) [Jeramae Panabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeramae-panabia/) > [Too often we don't realize what we have until it's gone. Too often we're too stubborn to say, 'Sorry, I was wrong.' Too often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/msparadeez/too-often-we-don-t-realize-what-we-have-until-it-s-gone-too-often-we/) [Msparadeez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/msparadeez/) > [Love is saying you're sorry. It's the opposite of those cherub posters that say, 'Love is never having to say you're sorry.' Wrong! Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/love-is-saying-you-re-sorry-it-s-the-opposite-of-those-cherub-posters/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) ## More by Mother Teresa > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [All works of love are works of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/all-works-of-love-are-works-of-peace/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. Laugh at good stories and learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/keep-the-corners-of-your-mouth-turned-up-speak-in-a-low-persuasive/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We may not be able to give much but we can always give the joy that springs in a heart that is in LOVE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-may-not-be-able-to-give-much-but-we-can-always-give-the-joy-that/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/maybe-if-i-didn-t-pick-up-that-one-person-i-wouldn-t-have-picked-up/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-too-are-called-to-withdraw-at-certain-intervals-into-deeper/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/people-are-unrealistic-illogical-and-self-centered-love-them-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Recovering in a Calcutta, India hospital. I think I'm more difficult than critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/recovering-in-a-calcutta-india-hospital-i-think-i-m-more-difficult/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [So many signatures for such a small heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/so-many-signatures-for-such-a-small-heart/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The more we empty ourselves, the more room we give God to fill us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-more-we-empty-ourselves-the-more-room-we-give-god-to-fill-us/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-prayer-joy-is-strength-joy-is-love-joy-is-a-net-of-love-by/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Explore all 951 Mother Teresa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even if I want I cannot make you say sorry to God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mother Teresa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sorry-to-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sorry-to-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/mother-teresa-196_god_even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sor_1955420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even if I want I cannot make you say sorry to God.” — Mother Teresa", "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": "Mother Teresa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even if I want I cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sorry-to-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/even-if-i-want-i-cannot-make-you-say-sorry-to-god/#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 } } ] } ```