--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An apology is a simple thing. A few easy…" description: "\"“An apology is a simple thing. A few easy words which we hope will correct for our regrettable actions. If accepted, however, an apology is of little w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/steven-t-seagle-75352_apology_an-apology-is-a-simple-thing-a-few-easy_857736.jpg" --- # An apology is a simple thing. A few easy words which we… ![“An apology is a simple thing. A few easy words which we hope will correct for our regrettable actions. If accepted, however, an apology is of little worth. It indicates a momentary change of heart. Though not always a lasting one.” quote by Steven T. Seagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/steven-t-seagle-75352_apology_an-apology-is-a-simple-thing-a-few-easy_857736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/steven-t-seagle-75352_apology_an-apology-is-a-simple-thing-a-few-easy_857736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/steven-t-seagle-75352_apology_an-apology-is-a-simple-thing-a-few-easy_857736.jpg) > ““An apology is a simple thing. A few easy words which we hope will correct for our regrettable actions. If accepted, however, an apology is of little worth. It indicates a momentary change of heart. Though not always a lasting one.”” Steven T. Seagle ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Apologies often lack lasting change, serving only as brief gestures without genuine transformation. **In simple terms:** Apologies may be fleeting. Key Takeaway Seek sincere, lasting change. Themes communication trust accountability Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical practical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - customer service - personal apologies Key Concepts ethical behavior relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure apologies lead to real change? - What actions follow a true apology? A Different Perspective Apology can be superficial without deeper commitment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change of heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-heart/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) ## Related quotes > [“I gave myself a good talking to. I could not turn into an inept idiot, because some guy hadn't accepted my apology... To hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-gave-myself-a-good-talking-to-i-could-not-turn-into-an-inept-idiot/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“Mark Twain didn’t dabble in psychological focus groups, but he certainly knew something about human nature when he wrote, “Twenty years from now you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/mark-twain-didn-t-dabble-in-psychological-focus-groups-but-he/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [“Before you can change what is coming out of your mouth you will need a change of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-moore/before-you-can-change-what-is-coming-out-of-your-mouth-you-will-need/) Dave Moore > [“Respectability politics is the dogged belief that if black people just shape up, dress right, and act right, racists would suddenly have a dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikesh-shukla/respectability-politics-is-the-dogged-belief-that-if-black-people/) [Nikesh Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikesh-shukla/) > [“In a flash I had a change of heart. Even one precious life was worth saving. Japan was defeated; but the wounded were still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-nagai/in-a-flash-i-had-a-change-of-heart-even-one-precious-life-was-worth/) [Takashi Nagai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-nagai/) > [Sometime during the mid-50s I said, 'I am an artist.' Before that, for many years, I had said, 'I'm going to be an artist.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/sometime-during-the-mid-50s-i-said-i-am-an-artist-before-that-for/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [Regeneration can come only through a change of heart in the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/regeneration-can-come-only-through-a-change-of-heart-in-the-individual/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [“It was not compassion that led to Daniel's change of heart, and it was not kindness. It was realizing that, against all odds, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-was-not-compassion-that-led-to-daniel-s-change-of-heart-and-it-was/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“A change of heart changes everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-stocker/a-change-of-heart-changes-everything/) [Todd Stocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-stocker/) > [“I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things clearly. A flavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bitter-but-warm-a-flavor-that/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [The Good News is that God's mercy and forgiveness extend to those who repent. Mercy does not mean approving of something that is sinful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/the-good-news-is-that-god-s-mercy-and-forgiveness-extend-to-those-who/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual - for it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/the-whole-course-of-human-history-may-depend-on-a-change-of-heart-in/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“Jesus changes our history from a random series of sad incidents and accidents into a constant opportunity for a change of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/jesus-changes-our-history-from-a-random-series-of-sad-incidents-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [But when 9/11 struck, I had a change of heart. I knew the story had to be told because what happened at 9/11 is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/but-when-9-11-struck-i-had-a-change-of-heart-i-knew-the-story-had-to/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/harrow-the-house-of-the-dead-look-shining-at-new-styles-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## More by Steven T. Seagle > [“Grundy HATE Nazis! Grundy hate EVERYONE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-t-seagle/grundy-hate-nazis-grundy-hate-everyone/) Steven T. Seagle > [“One thing writers have in common is the need to procrastinate. People don't really understand this, but it's not avoiding work, it is work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-t-seagle/one-thing-writers-have-in-common-is-the-need-to-procrastinate-people/) Steven T. Seagle Explore all 3 Steven T. Seagle quotes ## More Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [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/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“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 > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“An apology is a simple thing. A few easy words which we hope will correct for our regrettable actions. If accepted, however, an apology is of little worth. It indicates a momentary change of heart. Though not always a lasting one.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven T. 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