--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must not confuse letting go of past…" description: "\"“We must not confuse letting go of past injuries with feeling an obligation to let the injurers back into our life. The freedom of forgiveness often in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_we-must-not-confuse-letting-go-of-past-i_2963949.png" --- # We must not confuse letting go of past injuries with… ![“We must not confuse letting go of past injuries with feeling an obligation to let the injurers back into our life. The freedom of forgiveness often includes a firm boundary and loving distance from those who have harmed us. As my father likes to say, "We can let them back into our hearts without…” quote by Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_we-must-not-confuse-letting-go-of-past-i_2963949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_we-must-not-confuse-letting-go-of-past-i_2963949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/noah-levine-12272_forgiveness_we-must-not-confuse-letting-go-of-past-i_2963949.png) > ““We must not confuse letting go of past injuries with feeling an obligation to let the injurers back into our life. The freedom of forgiveness often includes a firm boundary and loving distance from those who have harmed us. As my father likes to say, "We can let them back into our hearts without ever letting them back into our house.”” [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 does not mean allowing abusers back into our lives; it means setting firm, loving boundaries. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness includes healthy boundaries. Key Takeaway Set limits while practicing compassion. Themes forgiveness boundaries healing Mood hopeful determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - family dynamics - recovering from trauma Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence self‑care Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries protect you while you forgive? - How do you differentiate forgiveness from enabling? A Different Perspective Boundaries may be hard to maintain with loved ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Some of the past injuries, they linger. They linger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrelle-revis/some-of-the-past-injuries-they-linger-they-linger/) [Darrelle Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrelle-revis/) > [“Growth in setting emotional boundaries must always be at a rate that takes into account your past injuries. Otherwise, you could fail massively before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/growth-in-setting-emotional-boundaries-must-always-be-at-a-rate-that/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [I learned that true forgiveness includes total acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-learned-that-true-forgiveness-includes-total-acceptance/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [I learned that true forgiveness includes total self-acceptance. And out of acceptance wounds are healed and happiness is possible again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-learned-that-true-forgiveness-includes-total-self-acceptance-and/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Forgiveness is the real strength in us all. Once we give up the need to be right, we discover freedom. Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dowd-jr/forgiveness-is-the-real-strength-in-us-all-once-we-give-up-the-need/) John Dowd Jr > [God led Jesus to a cross, not a crown, and yet that cross ultimately proved to be the gateway to freedom and forgiveness for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/god-led-jesus-to-a-cross-not-a-crown-and-yet-that-cross-ultimately/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [There is freedom in forgiveness, and it's not that hard to do once you get into the habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/there-is-freedom-in-forgiveness-and-it-s-not-that-hard-to-do-once-you/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [There is freedom in forgiveness. Even if it isn't received, the release of bitterness is indescribable. Let it go, give grace, be freed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/there-is-freedom-in-forgiveness-even-if-it-isn-t-received-the-release/) Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom > [“You can't hold on, Zoe. Not to hate. Not even to love. You kill things that way. There's only one freedom. Forgiveness. And sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-todd/you-can-t-hold-on-zoe-not-to-hate-not-even-to-love-you-kill-things/) [Pamela Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-todd/) > [“This is bigger than you," said Mr. Baram. "You can bring down this whole system. Erase the data that enslaves so many. Jubilee. Freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-london/this-is-bigger-than-you-said-mr-baram-you-can-bring-down-this-whole/) [Alex London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-london/) > [“Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness is liberation. Forgiveness is a choice. If you forgive and forget you are free but, if you keep it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/forgiveness-is-freedom-forgiveness-is-liberation-forgiveness-is-a/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [“there is no freedom without forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/there-is-no-freedom-without-forgiveness/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## 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": "“We must not confuse letting go of past injuries with feeling an obligation to let the injurers back into our life. The freedom of forgiveness often includes a firm boundary and loving distance from those who have harmed us. 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