---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the…"
description: "\"Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness. To not retaliate is to absorb the cost.\" — Timothy Keller"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png"
---

#  Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the…

![“Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness. To not retaliate is to absorb the cost.” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png)

> “Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness. To not retaliate is to absorb the cost.”

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

## 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 personal sacrifice; the forgiver bears emotional cost instead of retaliation.

**In simple terms:** Forgiving costs you, not the offender.

Key Takeaway

Accept the burden to break cycles.

Themes

forgiveness humility relationships emotional health ethics

Mood

thoughtful serious empathetic

Type

advice philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- marriage counseling
- family disputes
- workplace conflicts
- personal healing
- justice mediation

Key Concepts

sacrifice compassion conflict resolution

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the limits of forgiveness?
- How can you protect yourself while forgiving?

A Different Perspective

Cost may be too high for chronic abuse victims.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/)

## Related quotes

> [Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/mercy-and-forgiveness-must-be-free-and-unmerited-to-the-wrongdoer-if/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [After the dead are buried, after the physical pain of grief has become a permanent wound in the soul, then comes the transcendent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-dubus/after-the-dead-are-buried-after-the-physical-pain-of-grief-has-become/)

[Andre Dubus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-dubus/)

> [The forgiveness that comes of patient interpretation seems impossible when those nearest to your heart are threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/the-forgiveness-that-comes-of-patient-interpretation-seems-impossible/)

[Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/)

> [“With forgiveness comes freedom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-curtis/with-forgiveness-comes-freedom/)

Marianne Curtis

> [Forgiveness comes from an open heart and it comes without condition or it does not come at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-siddiq-prince/forgiveness-comes-from-an-open-heart-and-it-comes-without-condition/)

[Young Siddiq Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-siddiq-prince/)

> [“Forgiveness comes when we’re able to recognize that the other person’s actions were more about them—their own motivations and context—than about us. (And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-crowe/forgiveness-comes-when-we-re-able-to-recognize-that-the-other-person/)

Kelsey Crowe

> [In China, much of life involves skirting regulations, and one of the basic truths is that forgiveness comes easier than permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hessler/in-china-much-of-life-involves-skirting-regulations-and-one-of-the/)

[Peter Hessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hessler/)

> [When you walk on the face of a world, then forgiveness comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/when-you-walk-on-the-face-of-a-world-then-forgiveness-comes/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“Forgiveness comes from within. If you have said and done things for which you cannot forgive yourself, then surely you are already judged. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcginty/forgiveness-comes-from-within-if-you-have-said-and-done-things-for/)

Michael McGinty

> [Love accepts. Forgiveness comes in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/love-accepts-forgiveness-comes-in-time/)

[Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/)

> [“Forgiveness is the real strength in us all. Once we give up the need to be right, we discover freedom. Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dowd-jr/forgiveness-is-the-real-strength-in-us-all-once-we-give-up-the-need/)

John Dowd Jr

> [Life becomes peaceful with forgiveness and forgiveness comes easy with emotional and spiritual maturity. Life can be redefined with forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-runwal/life-becomes-peaceful-with-forgiveness-and-forgiveness-comes-easy/)

[Vikas Runwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-runwal/)

> [Forgiveness comes easy when you know that what people say or do is about them, its not about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/forgiveness-comes-easy-when-you-know-that-what-people-say-or-do-is/)

[Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/)

> [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [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/)

## More by Timothy Keller

> [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [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/)

> [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [ “24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: \[Alexis de\] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the-following-alexis-de/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [“To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible's teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-stay-away-from-christianity-because-part-of-the-bible-s-teaching/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [“of temple, presence, and sacrifice; of covenant and faithfulness; of kingdom and victory. When we seek to communicate the gospel to a particular culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/of-temple-presence-and-sacrifice-of-covenant-and-faithfulness-of/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [“Finally, you are ready to launch your church. Begin by developing action steps and goals that can be used as benchmarks to track your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/finally-you-are-ready-to-launch-your-church-begin-by-developing/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-a-child-of-god-you-don-t-lose-your-status-if-you-have-a/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-salvation-does-not-come-in-response-to-a-changed-life-a-changed/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [Suffering is the stripping of our hope in finite things, therefore we do not put our ultimate hope in anything finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/suffering-is-the-stripping-of-our-hope-in-finite-things-therefore-we/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [Christ will do everything for you or nothing. He's either all of your righteousness or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christ-will-do-everything-for-you-or-nothing-he-s-either-all-of-your/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-give-god-things-in-hope-that-they-ll-earn-us-blessings-we-re/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

[Explore all 843 Timothy Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

## More Cost quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

Jessica Yu

> [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/)

Robbin Crosby

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I believe that government is too large, costs too much, spends too much, and has too much regulatory power in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walberg/i-believe-that-government-is-too-large-costs-too-much-spends-too-much/)

[Tim Walberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walberg/)

> [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [They brought on someone who cost more than our stadium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/they-brought-on-someone-who-cost-more-than-our-stadium/)

[Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/)

> [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In health care, as in other things, government is the high-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-kling/when-the-government-pays-health-care-s-lack-of-affordability-becomes/)

[Arnold Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-kling/)

> [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/)

[William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/)

> [The term 'cost shifting,' as I use it, refers to those items in a university's budget that used to be reimbursed by the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-term-cost-shifting-as-i-use-it-refers-to-those-items-in-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Beauty's a doubtful good, a glass, a flower, Lost, faded, broken, dead within an hour; And beauty, blemish'd once, for ever's lost, In spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/beauty-s-a-doubtful-good-a-glass-a-flower-lost-faded-broken-dead/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

Browse all 3,987 Cost quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness. To not retaliate is to absorb the cost.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Timothy Keller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-the-one-granting-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cost"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-the-one-granting-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/timothy-keller-240_cost_forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-th_500314.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness. To not retaliate is to absorb the…” — Timothy Keller",
                "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": "Timothy Keller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Forgiveness always comes at a cost...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-the-one-granting-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/forgiveness-always-comes-at-a-cost-to-the-one-granting-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
