--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness is not just a selfish pursuit…" description: "\"“Forgiveness is not just a selfish pursuit of personal satisfaction or righteousness. It actually alleviates the amount of suffering in the world. As e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-not-just-a-selfish-pursui_2870665.png" --- # Forgiveness is not just a selfish pursuit of personal… ![“Forgiveness is not just a selfish pursuit of personal satisfaction or righteousness. It actually alleviates the amount of suffering in the world. As each one of us frees ourselves from clinging to resentments that cause suffering, we relieve our friends, family, and community of the burden of our…” quote by Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-not-just-a-selfish-pursui_2870665.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-not-just-a-selfish-pursui_2870665.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-not-just-a-selfish-pursui_2870665.png) > ““Forgiveness is not just a selfish pursuit of personal satisfaction or righteousness. It actually alleviates the amount of suffering in the world. As each one of us frees ourselves from clinging to resentments that cause suffering, we relieve our friends, family, and community of the burden of our unhappiness. This is not a philosophical proposal; it is a verifiable and practical truth. Through our suffering and lack of forgiveness, we tend to do all kinds of unskillful things that hurt others. We close ourselves off from love, for example, out of fear of further pains or betrayals. This alone—a lack of openness to the love shown to us—is a way that we cause harm to our loved ones. The closed heart lets no one in or out.”” [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness reduces personal suffering and benefits the wider community by releasing resentment. **In simple terms:** Forgiving eases pain for all. Key Takeaway Practice forgiveness regularly. Themes compassion healing community Mood hopeful empathetic Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - family conflicts - personal trauma - social reconciliation Key Concepts psychology emotional health Questions to Reflect On - How can you start letting go? - What support helps you forgive? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may be difficult when harm is severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Hurt Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-others/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Loved ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-ones/) [Personal satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-satisfaction/) ## Related quotes > [“Does our lack of forgiveness really punish them, or does it just make our hearts hard and our lives unpleasent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/does-our-lack-of-forgiveness-really-punish-them-or-does-it-just-make/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [A lack of forgiveness is a waste of time and it's very enriching to forgive and move on but those are things that come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathrine-switzer/a-lack-of-forgiveness-is-a-waste-of-time-and-it-s-very-enriching-to/) [Kathrine Switzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathrine-switzer/) > [Everything you go through can be a lesson for you. Lack of forgiveness can manifest itself in different ways -in some lives it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-wells/everything-you-go-through-can-be-a-lesson-for-you-lack-of-forgiveness/) Thelma Wells > [Disagreements don't cause disunity, a lack of forgiveness does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-cunningham/disagreements-don-t-cause-disunity-a-lack-of-forgiveness-does/) [Loren Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-cunningham/) > [“Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting. Forgiveness is you not letting your hate and anger rule your life. Because it will, whether you realize it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lingerfelt/forgiving-doesn-t-mean-forgetting-forgiveness-is-you-not-letting-your/) [James Russell Lingerfelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lingerfelt/) > [Lack of forgiveness of others breeds lack of self-forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/lack-of-forgiveness-of-others-breeds-lack-of-self-forgiveness/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Lack of forgiveness causes almost all of our self-sabotaging behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/lack-of-forgiveness-causes-almost-all-of-our-self-sabotaging-behavior/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [Forgiveness is just a key to opening one door and looking forward to the future. Forgetting is just another key to lock the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/forgiveness-is-just-a-key-to-opening-one-door-and-looking-forward-to/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [The difference between justice and forgiveness: To be just is to condemn the fault and, because of the fault, to condemn the doer as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-volf/the-difference-between-justice-and-forgiveness-to-be-just-is-to/) [Miroslav Volf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-volf/) > [Maybe forgiveness is just the continual pushing aside of bitter memories, until time dulls the hurt and anger, and the wrong is forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/maybe-forgiveness-is-just-the-continual-pushing-aside-of-bitter/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Forgiveness was about more than just words—it was actions and feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/forgiveness-was-about-more-than-just-words-it-was-actions-and-feelings/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [Forgiveness is just another name for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/forgiveness-is-just-another-name-for-freedom/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I wrap the potential for bitterness, resentment, martyrdom in the blanket of forgiveness and just set it down. Then it just melts in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/i-wrap-the-potential-for-bitterness-resentment-martyrdom-in-the/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [Asking for forgiveness is just one of the most painful kind of experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/asking-for-forgiveness-is-just-one-of-the-most-painful-kind-of/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [Don't ask permission to be happy. Don't beg for forgiveness. Just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/don-t-ask-permission-to-be-happy-don-t-beg-for-forgiveness-just-do-it/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Noah Levine > [“A good basic guideline for our speech is to reflect on whether what we are saying is both true and useful. There may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/a-good-basic-guideline-for-our-speech-is-to-reflect-on-whether-what/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“Actually a solution & a path to personal freedom. My own life's experience w/ both Dharma practice & punk rock inspired me to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/actually-a-solution-a-path-to-personal-freedom-my-own-life-s/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“The greatest satisfaction comes not from chasing pleasure and avoiding pain, but from the radical acceptance of life as it is, without fighting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/the-greatest-satisfaction-comes-not-from-chasing-pleasure-and/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“Loving-kindness is the experience of having a friendly and loving relationship toward ourselves as well as all others. The experience of sending loving-kindness toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/loving-kindness-is-the-experience-of-having-a-friendly-and-loving/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“Waking up is not a selfish pursuit of happiness, it is a revolutionary stance, from the inside out, for the benefit of all beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/waking-up-is-not-a-selfish-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-a-revolutionary/) [noah levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [Sitting still is a pain in the ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/sitting-still-is-a-pain-in-the-ass/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“An action from a confused and suffering being in the past doesn't represent what that being is forever; it is only an expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/an-action-from-a-confused-and-suffering-being-in-the-past-doesn-t/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“Serving the truth comes down simply to living life from the place of positive intentions. It means doing the right thing even when everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/serving-the-truth-comes-down-simply-to-living-life-from-the-place-of/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“Does our lack of forgiveness really punish them, or does it just make our hearts hard and our lives unpleasent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/does-our-lack-of-forgiveness-really-punish-them-or-does-it-just-make/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“The Buddha likened humans to the lotus flowers. Out of the deluded mud of human existence, filled with greed, hatred, and delusion, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/the-buddha-likened-humans-to-the-lotus-flowers-out-of-the-deluded-mud/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [Generosity is revolutionary, counter-instinctual. Our survival instinct is to care only for ourselves and our loved ones. But we can transform our relationship to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/generosity-is-revolutionary-counter-instinctual-our-survival-instinct/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [We come to understand the law of casuality - that is, we see that all beings are experiencing what they're experiencing based on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/we-come-to-understand-the-law-of-casuality-that-is-we-see-that-all/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [We mistakenly bind ourselves to be content only when life is feeling pleasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/we-mistakenly-bind-ourselves-to-be-content-only-when-life-is-feeling/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“The most important thing to remember is that we must live in the present, and if in the present moment we are still holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/the-most-important-thing-to-remember-is-that-we-must-live-in-the/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“We agreed that at least to some extent the whole punk movement is based on the Buddha's 1st noble truth of suffering & the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/we-agreed-that-at-least-to-some-extent-the-whole-punk-movement-is/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) [Explore all 55 Noah Levine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) ## 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. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. 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. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/) [Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) [Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Forgiveness is not just a selfish pursuit of personal satisfaction or righteousness. It actually alleviates the amount of suffering in the world. As each one of us frees ourselves from clinging to resentments that cause suffering, we relieve our friends, family, and community of the burden of our unhappiness. This is not a philosophical proposal; it is a verifiable and practical truth. 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