--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Resentment is a method of self harm. \"As…" description: "\"“Resentment is a method of self harm. \"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg" --- # Resentment is a method of self harm. "As I walked out the… ![“Resentment is a method of self harm. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” quote by Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg) > ““Resentment is a method of self harm. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”” [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto resentment traps you, while forgiveness frees you. **In simple terms:** Resentment imprisons; forgiveness liberates. Key Takeaway Release bitterness to gain freedom. Themes emotions psychology freedom Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - relationship repair - personal recovery - conflict resolution Key Concepts forgiveness self‑healing personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What steps help let go of bitterness? - How does forgiveness affect personal freedom? A Different Perspective Forgiveness is a difficult, ongoing process. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Resentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resentment/) [Self harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-harm/) ## Related quotes > [As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward-the-gate-that-would-lead-to-my/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Ever since I realized there was someone called a colored girl, or an evil woman, a bitch, or a nag, I've been trying not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juanita/ever-since-i-realized-there-was-someone-called-a-colored-girl-or-an/) Juanita > [If he had to bring all the bitterness and hatred of the world into his heart, he was not going to be in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/if-he-had-to-bring-all-the-bitterness-and-hatred-of-the-world-into/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“You are entitled to feel all the bitterness and hatred you were taught. You are entitled to carry with you the pain and sorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-peterson/you-are-entitled-to-feel-all-the-bitterness-and-hatred-you-were/) [Tracie Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-peterson/) > [When a nation becomes obsessed with the guns of war, it loses its social perspective… There is something about a war like this that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-a-nation-becomes-obsessed-with-the-guns-of-war-it-loses-its/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [And I believe happiness is the exact opposite of sadness, bitterness, and hatred: happiness should remain unexamined as long as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/and-i-believe-happiness-is-the-exact-opposite-of-sadness-bitterness/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“REGARDLESS OF WHY YOU’VE MADE BITTERNESS AND HATRED YOUR BEST FRIENDS, IF YOU CARRY THEM AROUND LONG ENOUGH, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY EAT YOU FROM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-vallotton/regardless-of-why-you-ve-made-bitterness-and-hatred-your-best-friends/) [Kris Vallotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-vallotton/) > [Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/let-us-not-seek-to-satisfy-our-thirst-for-freedom-by-drinking-from/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I have met people who truly do not believe in God, and they feel no anger when they see suffering. 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On my last day I want to know that those who remain behind will say: 'The man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/there-will-be-life-after-mandela-on-my-last-day-i-want-to-know-that/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“When describing why the African National Congress took the fateful decision to give up on nonviolence and take up arms, Mandela writes that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/when-describing-why-the-african-national-congress-took-the-fateful/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Nelson Mandela > [We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-work-together-to-ensure-the-equitable-distribution-of-wealth/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/courageous-people-do-not-fear-forgiving-for-the-sake-of-peace/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [As a leader... 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If somebody gives to charity, then he gets a tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-am-aware-of-what-the-position-is-in-the-united-states-of-america-if/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It is our duty to give support to the brother leader ... especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-our-duty-to-give-support-to-the-brother-leader-especially-in/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Explore all 809 Nelson Mandela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [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/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Resentment is a method of self harm. \"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/nelson-mandela-248_anger_resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i_885358.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Resentment is a method of self harm. \"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my…” — Nelson Mandela", "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": "Nelson Mandela", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Resentment is a method of self...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward/#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 } } ] } ```