--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness is… giving up the hope that…" description: "\"“Forgiveness is… giving up the hope that you can change the past.”\" — Oprah Winfrey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png" --- # Forgiveness is… giving up the hope that you can change the… ![“Forgiveness is… giving up the hope that you can change the past.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png) > ““Forgiveness is… giving up the hope that you can change the past.”” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness means releasing hope of altering the past, allowing emotional healing. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness is letting go of changing the past. Key Takeaway Release expectations about the past. Themes healing acceptance emotional freedom Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal trauma - relationship repair - self‑growth Key Concepts psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What does forgiving yourself look like? - How can you practice acceptance of past events? A Different Perspective Holding onto hope can hinder moving forward. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-the-past-could-have-been-any/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different, it's accepting the past for what it was, and using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-the-past-could-have-been-any-3/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.” It’s accepting the past for what it was and using this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-the-past-could-be-any/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different, accepting the past for what it is and helping yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-the-past-could-have-been-any-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who was it who said that forgiveness is giving up all hope of having had a different past?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/who-was-it-who-said-that-forgiveness-is-giving-up-all-hope-of-having/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Forgiveness is giving up all hope of having had a better past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/forgiveness-is-giving-up-all-hope-of-having-had-a-better-past/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Forgiveness is giving up hope of a better past. —UNKNOWN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamar-e-chansky/forgiveness-is-giving-up-hope-of-a-better-past-unknown/) Tamar E. Chansky > [Forgiveness is giving up the hope of what happened to you from being different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-of-what-happened-to-you-from-being/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [“Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/forgiveness-means-giving-up-all-hope-for-a-better-past/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [There is a certain freedom in giving up all hope. One is no longer bound by the cords of dread or fear; you simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/there-is-a-certain-freedom-in-giving-up-all-hope-one-is-no-longer/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Forgiveness is giving up your craving to hurt them for hurting you. It doesn't mean you're erasing the past, or forgetting what happened. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/forgiveness-is-giving-up-your-craving-to-hurt-them-for-hurting-you-it/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Forgiveness is the giving and so the receiving of life. the latter may be an impulse of a moment of heat; whereas the former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/forgiveness-is-the-giving-and-so-the-receiving-of-life-the-latter-may/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/forgiveness-is-the-giving-and-so-the-receiving-of-life/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Carpe Diem. Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different, it's accepting the past for what it was...the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/carpe-diem-forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-the-past-could-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgiveness is all about me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-all-about-me-giving-up-my-right-to-hurt-you-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## 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… giving up the hope that you can change the past.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oprah Winfrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-you-can-change-the-past/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forgiveness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-you-can-change-the-past/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/oprah-winfrey-186_forgiveness_forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-y_2366935.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Forgiveness is… giving up the hope that you can change the past.” — Oprah Winfrey", "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": "Oprah Winfrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Forgiveness is… giving up the hope...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-you-can-change-the-past/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-giving-up-the-hope-that-you-can-change-the-past/#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 } } ] } ```