Accepting Quote by Paul Tillich
“Forgiving presupposes remembering. And it creates a forgetting not in the natural way we forget yesterday's weather, but in the way of the great "in spite of" that says: I forget although I remember. Without this kind of forgetting no human relationship can endure healthily. I don't refer to a solemn act of asking for and offering forgiveness. Such rituals as sometimes occur between parents and children, or friends, or man and wife, are often acts of moral arrogance on the one part and enforced humiliation on the other. But I speak of the lasting willingness to accept him who has hurt us.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Courage to Be, Paul Tillich, 1952
Forgiveness requires remembering the hurt while also choosing to let go, allowing relationships to survive healthily.
In simple terms: Remember and let go to keep relationships healthy.
Key Takeaway
Practice mindful acceptance of others' faults.
Themes
forgiveness
relationships
memory
healing
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- family therapy
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
humanity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance remembering and letting go?
- What practices help avoid moral arrogance in forgiveness?
A Different Perspective
Forgiveness can be perceived as moral superiority if not genuine.
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