--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But privately when things got very bad I…" description: "\"But privately when things got very bad I often looked into books to see whether I could find some helpful words, and one day I read, \"The forgiveness o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/saul-bellow-558_book_but-privately-when-things-got-very-bad-i_2370937.png" --- # But privately when things got very bad I often looked into… ![“But privately when things got very bad I often looked into books to see whether I could find some helpful words, and one day I read, "The forgiveness of sins is perpetual and righteousness first is not required." This impressed me so deeply that I went around saying it to myself. But then I forgot…” quote by Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/saul-bellow-558_book_but-privately-when-things-got-very-bad-i_2370937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/saul-bellow-558_book_but-privately-when-things-got-very-bad-i_2370937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/saul-bellow-558_book_but-privately-when-things-got-very-bad-i_2370937.png) > “But privately when things got very bad I often looked into books to see whether I could find some helpful words, and one day I read, "The forgiveness of sins is perpetual and righteousness first is not required." This impressed me so deeply that I went around saying it to myself. But then I forgot which book it was.” [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects a belief that forgiveness is endless and does not depend on prior moral perfection, offering comfort during hardship. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness is endless, not dependent on being perfect. Key Takeaway Seek continual forgiveness regardless of past actions. Themes forgiveness spirituality resilience Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - seeking solace - spiritual practice - self‑reflection Key Concepts perpetual forgiveness ethical humility Questions to Reflect On - How does endless forgiveness affect personal responsibility? - Can one forgive without addressing underlying issues? A Different Perspective It may overlook accountability for harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiveness of sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-of-sins/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“ACT13.38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/act13-38-be-it-known-unto-you-therefore-men-and-brethren-that-through/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Forgiveness of sins is great, but I'd rather have the ability to quit doing the things I keep needing forgiveness for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-r-silva/forgiveness-of-sins-is-great-but-i-d-rather-have-the-ability-to-quit/) [D.R. Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-r-silva/) > [“(2) When David starts to enumerate "all his benefits" (103:2), he begins with the forgiveness of sins (103:3). Here is a man who understands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/2-when-david-starts-to-enumerate-all-his-benefits-103-2-he-begins/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) > [The task of the Church after Jesus' resurrection and ascension was to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to all nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/the-task-of-the-church-after-jesus-resurrection-and-ascension-was-to/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/in-whom-we-have-redemption-through-his-blood-the-forgiveness-of-sins/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Marriage is three parts love and seven parts forgiveness of sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-is-three-parts-love-and-seven-parts-forgiveness-of-sins/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is always the case that when the Christian looks back, he is looking at the forgiveness of sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/it-is-always-the-case-that-when-the-christian-looks-back-he-is/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“A dead man cannot forgive sins. The gospel, as the present forgiveness of sins, assumes the new, divine, eschatological life of the crucified Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rgen-moltmann/a-dead-man-cannot-forgive-sins-the-gospel-as-the-present-forgiveness/) [Jürgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-rgen-moltmann/) > [Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tikhon-of-zadonsk/do-we-refuse-to-forgive-god-too-will-refuse-to-forgive-us-as-we-treat/) [Tikhon of Zadonsk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tikhon-of-zadonsk/) > [To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/to-be-convinced-in-our-hearts-that-we-have-forgiveness-of-sins-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Jesus was able to die as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), because He was without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/jesus-was-able-to-die-as-the-lamb-of-god-to-take-away-the-sins-of-the/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [What should we do? We have no wish to interrupt the destroyer's work of saving lives... But war is war and the people being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-niemoller/what-should-we-do-we-have-no-wish-to-interrupt-the-destroyer-s-work/) [Martin Niemoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-niemoller/) > [Will not the very moment of great disillusionment with my brother or sister be incomparably wholesome for me becuase it so thoroughly teaches me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/will-not-the-very-moment-of-great-disillusionment-with-my-brother-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/therefore-my-brothers-i-want-you-to-know-that-through-jesus-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Saul Bellow > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [If I'm out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/if-i-m-out-of-my-mind-it-s-all-right-with-me-thought-moses-herzog/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [I have begun in old age to understand just how oddly we are all put together. We are so proud of our autonomy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-have-begun-in-old-age-to-understand-just-how-oddly-we-are-all-put/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-evils-that-have-the-ability-to-survive-identification-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Myself is thus and so, and will continue thus and so. And why fight it? My balance comes from instability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/myself-is-thus-and-so-and-will-continue-thus-and-so-and-why-fight-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“A strange heart. I myself can't account for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-strange-heart-i-myself-can-t-account-for-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [The late philosopher Morris R. Cohen of CCNY was asked by a student in the metaphysics course, Professor Cohen, how do I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/the-late-philosopher-morris-r-cohen-of-ccny-was-asked-by-a-student-in/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Therefore we didn't talk of genuine things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/therefore-we-didn-t-talk-of-genuine-things/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Is our species crazy? Plenty of evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/is-our-species-crazy-plenty-of-evidence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“But now the emphasis has shifted to making it. People have surrendered their personal moral objectives to government or schools or psychologists. It’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/but-now-the-emphasis-has-shifted-to-making-it-people-have-surrendered/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There's a kind of emptiness at the center of life ... nothing to form your life on, or by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-s-a-kind-of-emptiness-at-the-center-of-life-nothing-to-form/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“I don't know how it all at once came to me to talk a lot, tell jokes, kick up, and suddenly have views. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-don-t-know-how-it-all-at-once-came-to-me-to-talk-a-lot-tell-jokes/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are times when the most practical thing is to lie down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-times-when-the-most-practical-thing-is-to-lie-down/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“For knowledge of death makes us wish to extend our lives at the expense of others. And this is the root of the struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/for-knowledge-of-death-makes-us-wish-to-extend-our-lives-at-the/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) [Explore all 464 Saul Bellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But privately when things got very bad I often looked into books to see whether I could find some helpful words, and one day I read, \"The forgiveness of sins is perpetual and righteousness first is not required.\" This impressed me so deeply that I went around saying it to myself. 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