--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness works two ways, in most…" description: "\"Forgiveness works two ways, in most instances. People have to forgive themselves too. The powerful have to forgive themselves for their behavior. That ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/sidney-poitier-4270_behavior_forgiveness-works-two-ways-in-most-insta_2332170.jpg" --- # Forgiveness works two ways, in most instances. People have… ![“Forgiveness works two ways, in most instances. People have to forgive themselves too. The powerful have to forgive themselves for their behavior. That should be a sacred process.” quote by Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/sidney-poitier-4270_behavior_forgiveness-works-two-ways-in-most-insta_2332170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/sidney-poitier-4270_behavior_forgiveness-works-two-ways-in-most-insta_2332170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/sidney-poitier-4270_behavior_forgiveness-works-two-ways-in-most-insta_2332170.jpg) > “Forgiveness works two ways, in most instances. People have to forgive themselves too. The powerful have to forgive themselves for their behavior. That should be a sacred process.” [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness requires both self‑forgiveness and accountability from those in power, making it a mutual, sacred process. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness needs both parties to forgive. Key Takeaway Practice mutual forgiveness. Themes healing power forgiveness self‑acceptance responsibility Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal trauma - organizational culture Key Concepts restorative justice personal growth ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders model true forgiveness? - What barriers prevent self‑forgiveness? A Different Perspective Powerful individuals may resist genuine forgiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgive Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-behavior-2779460/) [Forgive Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-powerful-5613606/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiveness Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-works-1864097/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Powerful Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-forgive-5613607/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Most people behave badly when wounded. If you can remember the wounds, it is far more possible to forgive the behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/most-people-behave-badly-when-wounded-if-you-can-remember-the-wounds/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It's amazing how much you will forgive if the behavior is truthful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-miller/it-s-amazing-how-much-you-will-forgive-if-the-behavior-is-truthful/) [Bennett Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-miller/) > [Forgiveness works the miracle of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/forgiveness-works-the-miracle-of-change/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Forgiveness is like the martial arts of consciousness. In Aikido and, other martial arts, we sidestep our attackers force rather than resisting it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/forgiveness-is-like-the-martial-arts-of-consciousness-in-aikido-and/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Perhaps one could say I've worked in South Africa too long, but I believe in forgiveness, especially when a person admits a mistake, asks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/perhaps-one-could-say-i-ve-worked-in-south-africa-too-long-but-i/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Well, executive producer can mean anything in the world of Hollywood, sadly. It can be a bought title in many instances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/well-executive-producer-can-mean-anything-in-the-world-of-hollywood/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [True it is, as society is instituted, marriage becomes somewhat of a lottery, for all its votaries are either the victims of Cupid or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-frederick-saunders/true-it-is-as-society-is-instituted-marriage-becomes-somewhat-of-a/) [Arthur Frederick Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-frederick-saunders/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) ## More by Sidney Poitier > [Jackie Robinson is a true legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/jackie-robinson-is-a-true-legend/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [In my case, the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/in-my-case-the-body-of-work-stands-for-itself-i-think-my-work-has/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [You don't have to become something that you aren't to become better than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/you-don-t-have-to-become-something-that-you-aren-t-to-become-better/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [So it's been kind of a long road, but it was a good journey altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/so-it-s-been-kind-of-a-long-road-but-it-was-a-good-journey-altogether/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I'd seen my father. He was a poor man, and I watched him do astonishing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-d-seen-my-father-he-was-a-poor-man-and-i-watched-him-do-astonishing/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [If the image one holds of one's self contains elements that don't square with reality, one is best advised to let go of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/if-the-image-one-holds-of-one-s-self-contains-elements-that-don-t/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I think the way I want to think. I live the way I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-think-the-way-i-want-to-think-i-live-the-way-i-want-to-live/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I had learned something of Miami from people who had visited there, so I knew what to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-had-learned-something-of-miami-from-people-who-had-visited-there-so/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/we-re-all-imperfect-and-life-is-simply-a-perpetual-unending-struggle/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I did not go into the film business to be symbolized as someone else's vision of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-did-not-go-into-the-film-business-to-be-symbolized-as-someone-else/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I find myself, at this time in my life, no less challenged, no less plagued, no less intrigued by what I still don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-find-myself-at-this-time-in-my-life-no-less-challenged-no-less/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [Living consciously involves being genuine; it involves listening and responding to others honestly and openly; it involves being in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/living-consciously-involves-being-genuine-it-involves-listening-and/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [Every new fashion is a form of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/every-new-fashion-is-a-form-of-rebellion/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I'll always be chasing you... Glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-ll-always-be-chasing-you-glory/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [So I'm OK with myself, with history, my work, who I am and who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/so-i-m-ok-with-myself-with-history-my-work-who-i-am-and-who-i-was/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) [Explore all 112 Sidney Poitier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. 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Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Forgiveness works two ways, in most instances. People have to forgive themselves too. The powerful have to forgive themselves for their behavior. 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