--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Enough with the apologies. I can’t just…" description: "\"“Enough with the apologies. I can’t just forgive seventeen years of hurt all at once. But you can do better, all right? From today onward, do better. N..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/paula-stokes-14657_apologies_enough-with-the-apologies-i-can-t-just-f_2545300.jpg" --- # Enough with the apologies. I can’t just forgive seventeen… ![“Enough with the apologies. I can’t just forgive seventeen years of hurt all at once. But you can do better, all right? From today onward, do better. Not just for me. For my mom too.” quote by Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/paula-stokes-14657_apologies_enough-with-the-apologies-i-can-t-just-f_2545300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/paula-stokes-14657_apologies_enough-with-the-apologies-i-can-t-just-f_2545300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/paula-stokes-14657_apologies_enough-with-the-apologies-i-can-t-just-f_2545300.jpg) > ““Enough with the apologies. I can’t just forgive seventeen years of hurt all at once. But you can do better, all right? From today onward, do better. Not just for me. For my mom too.”” [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Healing requires ongoing effort; forgiveness isn’t instantaneous, and improvement must be continuous for self and others. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness takes time, keep improving. Key Takeaway Commit to daily better actions. Themes healing forgiveness self‑improvement Mood determined hopeful empathetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - family relationships - personal therapy - conflict resolution - self‑care routines Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How will you measure your improvement? - What does “doing better” look like for you? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and setbacks inevitable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologies/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Parents-and-children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-and-children/) ## Related quotes > [“Dedicated to: you. I got you wrong in the beginning and you have my apologies. It's just so like you that you stepped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-3/dedicated-to-you-i-got-you-wrong-in-the-beginning-and-you-have-my/) [J.R.Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-3/) > [“Fletcher had always said that apologies were just empty words, and that actions were all that really mattered in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/fletcher-had-always-said-that-apologies-were-just-empty-words-and/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [You know, I'm really bad at apologies. I'm just really bad at 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/you-know-i-m-really-bad-at-apologies-i-m-just-really-bad-at-em/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [The remedy for life's broken pieces is not classes, workshops or books. Don't try to heal the broken pieces. Just forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-remedy-for-life-s-broken-pieces-is-not-classes-workshops-or-books/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Sometimes, people do evil against you because that is what they know best. So, there is no need to bear grudges against them. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/sometimes-people-do-evil-against-you-because-that-is-what-they-know/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Find one thing every day to forgive the other person for. Don't let them know what it is...just forgive them and let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/find-one-thing-every-day-to-forgive-the-other-person-for-don-t-let/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“If God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, why shouldn't we forgive? If we are faithful and just, we shall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesba-stretton/if-god-is-faithful-and-just-to-forgive-us-our-sins-why-shouldn-t-we/) [Hesba Stretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesba-stretton/) > [Don't assume I'll forgive you just because I don't react, or I say that it's okay, because it's not always okay. I'll remember. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-assume-i-ll-forgive-you-just-because-i-don-t-react-or-i-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel deeply hurt but I choose to forgive you… Sometimes you just forgive because you dont want to lose that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-deeply-hurt-but-i-choose-to-forgive-you-sometimes-you-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes you want to just scream, or shout, or be ratty with your partner or your mate. Just forgive yourself, and get over it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fearne-cotton/sometimes-you-want-to-just-scream-or-shout-or-be-ratty-with-your/) [Fearne Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fearne-cotton/) > [There are curveballs that are thrown at you, and you just have to get over it and forgive... if you believe you're perfect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-wilkinson/there-are-curveballs-that-are-thrown-at-you-and-you-just-have-to-get/) [Kendra Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-wilkinson/) > [Learn How To Forgive And Forget Because Its Not Worth Keeping Something That Is Hurting You Deep In Because Of What Somebody Had Said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanna-symone/learn-how-to-forgive-and-forget-because-its-not-worth-keeping/) Rosanna-Symone > [Some people just can't forgive. And that's just the way life is. You know, I can't forgive some things, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/some-people-just-can-t-forgive-and-that-s-just-the-way-life-is-you/) [Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/) > [“But just as we do not forgive for others, we also do not forgive for God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/but-just-as-we-do-not-forgive-for-others-we-also-do-not-forgive-for/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Okay so I say I'm sorry and u just cant forgive well fuck it I'm moved on you dumb bitch. I got my bestie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylieeee-nicoleeee/okay-so-i-say-i-m-sorry-and-u-just-cant-forgive-well-fuck-it-i-m/) Kylieeee Nicoleeee ## More by Paula Stokes > [“You know what I regret the most?” Trinity says, her voice just above a whisper. I don’t answer. All I can think about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/you-know-what-i-regret-the-most-trinity-says-her-voice-just-above-a/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Maybe I could dole out the truth in tiny pieces that, once assembled, would make a picture that resembled a reality in which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/maybe-i-could-dole-out-the-truth-in-tiny-pieces-that-once-assembled/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“But if you want him, you might have to fight for him." I let my head fall to the tabletop. "For the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/but-if-you-want-him-you-might-have-to-fight-for-him-i-let-my-head/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Nothing will be the same without him." Micah nods slowly. "I know what you're saying. I guess I'm just wondering how we know when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/nothing-will-be-the-same-without-him-micah-nods-slowly-i-know-what/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“A lot of kids think high school represents the best years of their lives, but others recognize that it's mostly irrelevant bullshit, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/a-lot-of-kids-think-high-school-represents-the-best-years-of-their/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“People are always clinging to what they want to hear, discarding the evidence that doesn’t fit with their beliefs, giving greater weight to evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/people-are-always-clinging-to-what-they-want-to-hear-discarding-the/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“The world needs more beautiful things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/the-world-needs-more-beautiful-things/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“That's one of the problems with nice guys. If They can't stand up for themselves then they won't be able to stand up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/that-s-one-of-the-problems-with-nice-guys-if-they-can-t-stand-up-for/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“I go through memory after memory, looking for reassurance that nothing has changed, but it's like flipping through a book of stories I've outgrown.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/i-go-through-memory-after-memory-looking-for-reassurance-that-nothing/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“How do you make me smile when it seems like there’s nothing in the whole world to smile about?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/how-do-you-make-me-smile-when-it-seems-like-there-s-nothing-in-the/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Who would vandalize a doghouse? I ask. "Cats?" Bee suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/who-would-vandalize-a-doghouse-i-ask-cats-bee-suggests/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Sometimes being poor means having to choose between your principles and your survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/sometimes-being-poor-means-having-to-choose-between-your-principles/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“The truth doesn't get you very far on the streets, or in a group home, or even in high school. That's probably why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/the-truth-doesn-t-get-you-very-far-on-the-streets-or-in-a-group-home/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“It’s not right that some people have so much and others have so little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/it-s-not-right-that-some-people-have-so-much-and-others-have-so-little/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Lainey is hot in a prom queen kind of way and we used to be friends back in grade school, but that was two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/lainey-is-hot-in-a-prom-queen-kind-of-way-and-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) [Explore all 45 Paula Stokes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) ## More Apologies quotes > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) Allison Pataki > [“Make no apologies for surviving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailey-edwards/make-no-apologies-for-surviving/) [Hailey Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailey-edwards/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“No. I made that choice. I let all that anger and pain get twisted up in my thoughts for you.” He leaned in. “It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/no-i-made-that-choice-i-let-all-that-anger-and-pain-get-twisted-up-in/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Sorry is like a band-aid. Just because you use it, doesn't mean it's going to heal the wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-is-like-a-band-aid-just-because-you-use-it-doesn-t-mean-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you realize youve made a mistake, make amends immediately. Its easier to eat crow while its still warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-realize-youve-made-a-mistake-make-amends-immediately-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My apologies. I meant no offense." Except that his tone told her he didn't mean a word he'd just spoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-oram/my-apologies-i-meant-no-offense-except-that-his-tone-told-her-he-didn/) [Jean Oram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-oram/) > [“Time made apologies and absolution unnecessary. Time didn't really heal, it just made bad memories distant so that the brain couldn't recapture the lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amulya-malladi/time-made-apologies-and-absolution-unnecessary-time-didn-t-really/) [Amulya Malladi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amulya-malladi/) > [But my apology was a thousand apologies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/but-my-apology-was-a-thousand-apologies/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty You know I try but I don't do too well with apologies I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/you-gotta-go-and-get-angry-at-all-of-my-honesty-you-know-i-try-but-i/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I'm disappointed in myself. I promised myself I'd stay strong, but I couldn't. Tonight marks the first time I cut. Tonight is the start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/i-m-disappointed-in-myself-i-promised-myself-i-d-stay-strong-but-i/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [Your apologies don't mean much to me any more. You apologise but you never change. It's a waste of time believing that you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/your-apologies-don-t-mean-much-to-me-any-more-you-apologise-but-you/) Unkown > [What goes around comes around,when and how nobody knows and with double intensity-be it good or bad! so do good to others.Apologize for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reema-chandnani/what-goes-around-comes-around-when-and-how-nobody-knows-and-with/) [Reema Chandnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reema-chandnani/) > [When I think that my actions hurt your feelings I feel terrible and I want you to know how sorry I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/when-i-think-that-my-actions-hurt-your-feelings-i-feel-terrible-and-i/) Superman [Browse all 319 Apologies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Enough with the apologies. I can’t just forgive seventeen years of hurt all at once. 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