--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you make a decision to forgive it's…" description: "\"When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.\" — T. D. Jakes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png" --- # When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that… ![“When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.” quote by T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png) > “When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.” [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness is an intellectual decision, requiring deliberate thought rather than emotion alone. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness is a mental choice. Key Takeaway Choose forgiveness consciously. Themes forgiveness intellect choice Mood spiritual reflective Type religious self‑help When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal healing - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology psychology emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you think through forgiveness? - How does intellectual choice affect emotional healing? A Different Perspective Emotions may resist rational forgiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) ## Related quotes > [“The decision to forgive is first a heart transaction between you and God. It is a willingness to give up your desire to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-s-lane/the-decision-to-forgive-is-first-a-heart-transaction-between-you-and/) [Timothy S. Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-s-lane/) > [No Matter How Hard I Take the Decision To Forgive Peoples Who even Dont Deserve It, They Always Enjoys To Play with Someone's Feelings..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinay-lokhandeindia/no-matter-how-hard-i-take-the-decision-to-forgive-peoples-who-even/) Vinay LokhandeINDIA > [“Don’t take decision blindly, #1 Put yourself in other’s situation #2 Observe the situation #3 Make decision #4 Forgive (If Possible) Because strictness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atlas-gondal/don-t-take-decision-blindly-1-put-yourself-in-other-s-situation-2/) [Atlas Gondal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atlas-gondal/) > [She couldn’t help wondering if that was how one made the decision to forgive or not. If letting go hurt more than accepting someone’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/she-couldn-t-help-wondering-if-that-was-how-one-made-the-decision-to/) [C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/) > [If you learn how to forgive others for not being strong, then people can learn how to forgive you for your own issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/if-you-learn-how-to-forgive-others-for-not-being-strong-then-people/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [We must not forget; but we must forgive. Suffering often such compassion from the Jewish community. It was Jewish groups in the US who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-not-forget-but-we-must-forgive-suffering-often-such/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Women will forgive anything. Otherwise, the race would have died out long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/women-will-forgive-anything-otherwise-the-race-would-have-died-out/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The Bible says forgive your debtors; the world says "sue them for their dough."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/the-bible-says-forgive-your-debtors-the-world-says-sue-them-for-their/) [Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/) > [He was a lovely man in many ways. But he kept on insisting on forgiving me when there was nothing to forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/he-was-a-lovely-man-in-many-ways-but-he-kept-on-insisting-on/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More by T. D. Jakes > [You can't just be a recipient of a blessing, you have to do something to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-can-t-just-be-a-recipient-of-a-blessing-you-have-to-do-something/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [ The pursuit of your life is to come into \[your\] purpose. And the waste of your life is to miss that purpose. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/the-pursuit-of-your-life-is-to-come-into-your-purpose-and-the-waste/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Set the goal to harvest what's in you rather than having a car, house or a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/set-the-goal-to-harvest-what-s-in-you-rather-than-having-a-car-house/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Excellence requires discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/excellence-requires-discomfort/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [I wasn't looking out, I was looking in. I knew something was in me, I just wasn't sure how valuable it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-wasn-t-looking-out-i-was-looking-in-i-knew-something-was-in-me-i/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [God's not going to promote you because you have a dream, He's going to promote you because you've maximized where you are so now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/god-s-not-going-to-promote-you-because-you-have-a-dream-he-s-going-to/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [You cannot have a private relationship in a public arena. You must look to an inner circle of people who really know you. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-cannot-have-a-private-relationship-in-a-public-arena-you-must/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Worry worships the words of the enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/worry-worships-the-words-of-the-enemy/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [I didn't know who I was and I didn't know if what was in me was any good. But my parents taught me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-didn-t-know-who-i-was-and-i-didn-t-know-if-what-was-in-me-was-any/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [How you think about your opportunities determines how you will act on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/how-you-think-about-your-opportunities-determines-how-you-will-act-on/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [You are just one idea away from what you sow in your brains, in your prophecies that God spoke over your life. You're one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-are-just-one-idea-away-from-what-you-sow-in-your-brains-in-your/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [If you learn how to forgive others for not being strong, then people can learn how to forgive you for your own issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/if-you-learn-how-to-forgive-others-for-not-being-strong-then-people/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [You don't know how much you've grown- until trouble comes back for an encore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-don-t-know-how-much-you-ve-grown-until-trouble-comes-back-for-an/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Nobody wants somebody who wants them for what they have or the position their in- you want somebody who wants you for you. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/nobody-wants-somebody-who-wants-them-for-what-they-have-or-the/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [May the passion to be all that God wants you to be sweep across your soul like a gentle breeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/may-the-passion-to-be-all-that-god-wants-you-to-be-sweep-across-your/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) [Explore all 230 T. D. Jakes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "T. D. Jakes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s-a-decision-that-you-have-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s-a-decision-that-you-have-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/t-d-jakes-1544_decision_when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s_3017051.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.” — T. D. Jakes", "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": "T. D. Jakes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you make a decision to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s-a-decision-that-you-have-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/when-you-make-a-decision-to-forgive-it-s-a-decision-that-you-have-to/#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 } } ] } ```