--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiving is giving up the wish that…" description: "\"Forgiving is giving up the wish that things could have been different. They weren't. That's the past. Let it go.\" — Valerie Harper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/valerie-harper-4175_forgiveness_forgiving-is-giving-up-the-wish-that-thi_3133819.png" --- # Forgiving is giving up the wish that things could have… ![“Forgiving is giving up the wish that things could have been different. They weren't. That's the past. Let it go.” quote by Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/valerie-harper-4175_forgiveness_forgiving-is-giving-up-the-wish-that-thi_3133819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/valerie-harper-4175_forgiveness_forgiving-is-giving-up-the-wish-that-thi_3133819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/valerie-harper-4175_forgiveness_forgiving-is-giving-up-the-wish-that-thi_3133819.png) > “Forgiving is giving up the wish that things could have been different. They weren't. That's the past. Let it go.” [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness means releasing the desire for alternate outcomes, accepting reality, and moving beyond past grievances. **In simple terms:** Forgiving is letting go of "what if". Key Takeaway Release expectations, accept the past. Themes forgiveness acceptance emotional health growth Mood reflective healing Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationship conflict - personal loss - career setbacks - self‑criticism Key Concepts attachment regret mental peace Questions to Reflect On - What does forgiveness mean to you? - How can you practice acceptance daily? A Different Perspective Some may view it as ignoring legitimate hurt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [FORGIVING is FOR GIVING to others and if it is meant FOR GETTING to ourselves then should it not be termed as FORGETTING ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/forgiving-is-for-giving-to-others-and-if-it-is-meant-for-getting-to/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [Forgiving is (for giving) another opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/forgiving-is-for-giving-another-opportunity/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [“We can't hold on to the past and let it influence what's best for us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-brae/we-can-t-hold-on-to-the-past-and-let-it-influence-what-s-best-for-us/) Christine Brae > [“Sometimes you have to fight for the past and sometimes you have to let go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-m-mullen/sometimes-you-have-to-fight-for-the-past-and-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Shannon M Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-m-mullen/) > [In the past, I would let things get to me and been much more emotional, both positive and negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/in-the-past-i-would-let-things-get-to-me-and-been-much-more-emotional/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [What's in the past is in the past... let it be, let it be. We all grow up..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinxx/what-s-in-the-past-is-in-the-past-let-it-be-let-it-be-we-all-grow-up/) [Jinxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinxx/) > [If they can't let go of your past, let go of them. God has a brighter future for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-they-can-t-let-go-of-your-past-let-go-of-them-god-has-a-brighter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don´t pay the price for your past, let your awesome future do this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/don-t-pay-the-price-for-your-past-let-your-awesome-future-do-this/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Don't waste your time on people who see you as you were, rather than as you are. If they can't let go of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-waste-your-time-on-people-who-see-you-as-you-were-rather-than/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“The past will let go of you if you let go of the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timber-hawkeye/the-past-will-let-go-of-you-if-you-let-go-of-the-past/) [Timber Hawkeye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timber-hawkeye/) > [The past is to much to let go, but it's to hard to hold on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blevins/the-past-is-to-much-to-let-go-but-it-s-to-hard-to-hold-on/) [Billy Blevins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blevins/) > [“Most people talk too much about the past. Let the past pass into the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/most-people-talk-too-much-about-the-past-let-the-past-pass-into-the/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [You moved on and left him in the past. Keep him there, do not let him mess up your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/you-moved-on-and-left-him-in-the-past-keep-him-there-do-not-let-him/) Enhance Dreams > [“One could not change the past anyway. Why let it blight the present and the future?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/one-could-not-change-the-past-anyway-why-let-it-blight-the-present/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Learn from the past and let it go. Live in today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learn-from-the-past-and-let-it-go-live-in-today/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Valerie Harper > [Life does not owe me a shred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/life-does-not-owe-me-a-shred/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [Cancer reminds me of a very bad but tenacious performer who, although no one wants to see, insists on doing an encore, having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/cancer-reminds-me-of-a-very-bad-but-tenacious-performer-who-although/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I really got the 'Rhoda' flavor from studying my stepmother, Angela, who's Italian, not Jewish. There's really so little difference between the speech patterns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-really-got-the-rhoda-flavor-from-studying-my-stepmother-angela-who/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [We think it's food that matters the most, but exercise and food both matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/we-think-it-s-food-that-matters-the-most-but-exercise-and-food-both/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [All of us are going to die. Every single one of us. So, while you're alive, be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/all-of-us-are-going-to-die-every-single-one-of-us-so-while-you-re/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I'm painfully middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-m-painfully-middle-class/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I don't know a great deal about Alzheimer's - just what it does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-don-t-know-a-great-deal-about-alzheimer-s-just-what-it-does/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I have had acupuncture regularly, and I engage in visualization, which is actually an actor's tool, visualizing myself kicking out the cancer, making up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-have-had-acupuncture-regularly-and-i-engage-in-visualization-which/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I first met Rhoda Morgenstern in the spring of 1970.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-first-met-rhoda-morgenstern-in-the-spring-of-1970/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I've had very deep moments of sadness. What I do is really sob, really cry, do whatever it is, and then kind of release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-ve-had-very-deep-moments-of-sadness-what-i-do-is-really-sob-really/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [Comedy is saving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/comedy-is-saving-me/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [Life is amazing. Live it to the fullest. Stay as long as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/life-is-amazing-live-it-to-the-fullest-stay-as-long-as-you-can/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [If I wake up in the night terrified, I try to find a way to not let the fear have me. Every moment you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/if-i-wake-up-in-the-night-terrified-i-try-to-find-a-way-to-not-let/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [Death is out there for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/death-is-out-there-for-all-of-us/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I'm happier because I had to face what all of us try not to face: that we're going to die. It's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/i-m-happier-because-i-had-to-face-what-all-of-us-try-not-to-face-that/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) [Explore all 115 Valerie Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) ## More Forgiveness quotes > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/) [Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/) [Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/) > [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/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [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/) > [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/) [Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Forgiving is giving up the wish that things could have been different. They weren't. That's the past. 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