--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought saying sorry was more…" description: "\"“I always thought saying sorry was more about alleviating guilt, that apologies were designed for the mouth, not for the ears.”\" — Swati Avasthi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg" --- # I always thought saying sorry was more about alleviating… ![“I always thought saying sorry was more about alleviating guilt, that apologies were designed for the mouth, not for the ears.” quote by Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg) > ““I always thought saying sorry was more about alleviating guilt, that apologies were designed for the mouth, not for the ears.”” [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Apologies are often spoken to ease guilt, not truly heard, suggesting they serve the speaker more than the listener. **In simple terms:** Sorry often eases speaker’s guilt, not listener’s hurt. Key Takeaway Make apologies sincere and listener‑focused. Themes communication guilt empathy authenticity Mood thoughtful critical Type psychological social When to use this quote - relationship counseling - team meetings - personal apologies Key Concepts psychology social dynamics conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure an apology is heard? - What actions follow a true apology? A Different Perspective Apologies can feel hollow if insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Saying sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-sorry/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Nothing wrong with apologizing, but saying I'm sorry does nothing when you continue to make the same mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-wrong-with-apologizing-but-saying-i-m-sorry-does-nothing-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Saying sorry doesnt mean there isnt guilt and forgiving doesnt mean the pain is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/saying-sorry-doesnt-mean-there-isnt-guilt-and-forgiving-doesnt-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's the thing about saying "sorry" or "excuse me" in this city. No one ever does. Or when we do apologize, we don't actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/that-s-the-thing-about-saying-sorry-or-excuse-me-in-this-city-no-one/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [You can make up a quarrel, but it will always show where it was patched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/you-can-make-up-a-quarrel-but-it-will-always-show-where-it-was-patched/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Saying sorry dosnt mean you feel no guit, Being forgiving dosnt mean the pain is gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/saying-sorry-dosnt-mean-you-feel-no-guit-being-forgiving-dosnt-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Saying sorry too much is an anchor on your upward mobility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-cohen/saying-sorry-too-much-is-an-anchor-on-your-upward-mobility/) Aimee Cohen > [Saying sorry doesn't always mean that you were wrong. . Sometimes it means you value your relationships more than your ego...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/saying-sorry-doesn-t-always-mean-that-you-were-wrong-sometimes-it/) UnKown > [To be honest, 'I'm sorry' doesn't mean a thing to me. Don't keep on saying you're sorry if you're gonna keep making the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-honest-i-m-sorry-doesn-t-mean-a-thing-to-me-don-t-keep-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m sorry.’ The two most inadequate words in the English language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/i-m-sorry-the-two-most-inadequate-words-in-the-english-language/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [“The one thing you should never do to a woman, whether you make love to her or fuck her, is apologise straight after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/the-one-thing-you-should-never-do-to-a-woman-whether-you-make-love-to/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [Saying 'sorry' to others FIRST does not show that it's all your fault. . but it shows that you have realized YOUR mistake before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/saying-sorry-to-others-first-does-not-show-that-it-s-all-your-fault/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Avant-garde means never having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/avant-garde-means-never-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) > [To be honest I'm sorry doesn't mean shit to me. Don't keep saying you're sorry if your gonna keep doing the same shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-honest-i-m-sorry-doesn-t-mean-shit-to-me-don-t-keep-saying-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Saying sorry doesn't mean there isn't guilt & forgiving doesn't mean that the pain is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-morgan/saying-sorry-doesn-t-mean-there-isn-t-guilt-forgiving-doesn-t-mean/) [Harriet Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-morgan/) ## More by Swati Avasthi > [“You think I’m sixteen, so I don’t know what love is, right?” She shakes her head, sad smile on again. “Sometimes I wonder if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/you-think-i-m-sixteen-so-i-don-t-know-what-love-is-right-she-shakes/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“Finally, Jace suspects it's a bad sign that he is referring to himself in the third person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/finally-jace-suspects-it-s-a-bad-sign-that-he-is-referring-to-himself/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“Maybe one is enough”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/maybe-one-is-enough/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“But I’m not the one digging her grave; I didn’t open her hole in the earth when I drove away that night or when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/but-i-m-not-the-one-digging-her-grave-i-didn-t-open-her-hole-in-the/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“It's weird when someone gets you understands what you would never say not even to yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/it-s-weird-when-someone-gets-you-understands-what-you-would-never-say/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“ This is why they say you should look before you leap. They say a lot of things. Carpe diem. Even platitudes contradict each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/this-is-why-they-say-you-should-look-before-you-leap-they-say-a-lot/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“Sometimes I wonder why words can't actually make us bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/sometimes-i-wonder-why-words-can-t-actually-make-us-bleed/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [“We all screw up. We all wish we were stronger than we are, and not one of us will get through this life without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/we-all-screw-up-we-all-wish-we-were-stronger-than-we-are-and-not-one/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) [Explore all 9 Swati Avasthi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) ## 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": "“I always thought saying sorry was more about alleviating guilt, that apologies were designed for the mouth, not for the ears.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Swati Avasthi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-about-alleviating-guilt-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-about-alleviating-guilt-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/swati-avasthi-43700_regret_i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-a_2166290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always thought saying sorry was more about alleviating guilt, that apologies were designed for the mouth…” — Swati Avasthi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Swati Avasthi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I always thought saying sorry was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-about-alleviating-guilt-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/i-always-thought-saying-sorry-was-more-about-alleviating-guilt-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```