--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I should have. I should have forgiven…" description: "\"“But I should have. I should have forgiven him.”\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/veronica-roth-66_forgiven_but-i-should-have-i-should-have-forgiven_1218923.png" --- # But I should have. I should have forgiven him. ![“But I should have. I should have forgiven him.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/veronica-roth-66_forgiven_but-i-should-have-i-should-have-forgiven_1218923.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/veronica-roth-66_forgiven_but-i-should-have-i-should-have-forgiven_1218923.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/veronica-roth-66_forgiven_but-i-should-have-i-should-have-forgiven_1218923.png) > ““But I should have. I should have forgiven him.”” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret over not forgiving someone highlights the burden of unresolved resentment **In simple terms:** Unforgiven hurts the forgiver Key Takeaway Consider forgiveness for peace Themes remorse forgiveness relationships Mood somber introspective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - conflict resolution - family dynamics - personal growth - therapy Key Concepts emotional healing personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Who do you need to forgive? - What holds you back from forgiving? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may not be possible or safe ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiven/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ## Related quotes > [Can I be forgiven for all I've done to get here? I want to be. I can. I believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/can-i-be-forgiven-for-all-i-ve-done-to-get-here-i-want-to-be-i-can-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Can I be forgiven for all I've done to get here? I don't know. I don't know. please. -Tris, Divergent Can I be forgiven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/can-i-be-forgiven-for-all-i-ve-done-to-get-here-i-don-t-know-i-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Sometimes I think I have forgiven her. Sometimes I’m not certain I have. I don’t know how—that’s like asking how you continue on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/sometimes-i-think-i-have-forgiven-her-sometimes-i-m-not-certain-i/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [All men have parties and are pals who never let each other down. A pal can say terrible things which are forgotten the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/all-men-have-parties-and-are-pals-who-never-let-each-other-down-a-pal/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“Maybe if we all prayed for somebody else, somehow we'd all be forgiven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-bavati/maybe-if-we-all-prayed-for-somebody-else-somehow-we-d-all-be-forgiven/) [Robyn Bavati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-bavati/) > [Forgiveness is a stunning principle, your ticket out of hate and fear and chaos. ... I know what regret feels like; I've earned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/forgiveness-is-a-stunning-principle-your-ticket-out-of-hate-and-fear/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [Parents are never forgiven for not giving just the right response at the appropriate moment. Or, rather, there are particular times in the adolescent's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-e-apter/parents-are-never-forgiven-for-not-giving-just-the-right-response-at/) [Terri E Apter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-e-apter/) > [“Nobody's perfect, Horace. But you're forgiven for assuming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sanders/nobody-s-perfect-horace-but-you-re-forgiven-for-assuming/) [Ted Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sanders/) > [“Some enemies are not worthy of being forgiven, even if they are forgiven a million times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/some-enemies-are-not-worthy-of-being-forgiven-even-if-they-are/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [I'm washed, I'm forgiven, I'm whole, and I'm healed. I'm cleansed and I'm glory bound. I am only a sojourner on the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/i-m-washed-i-m-forgiven-i-m-whole-and-i-m-healed-i-m-cleansed-and-i-m/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Make your past to be forgiven in peace. Forget thy heart breaking moments you had to go through. God will heal you out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bigheartedperson/make-your-past-to-be-forgiven-in-peace-forget-thy-heart-breaking/) [BigHeartedPerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bigheartedperson/) > [“Maybe it’s about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/maybe-it-s-about-who-can-do-what-to-whom-and-be-forgiven-for-it/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Without being forgiven, released from the consequences of what we have done, our capacity to act would, as it were, be confined to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/without-being-forgiven-released-from-the-consequences-of-what-we-have/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [To forgive and to be forgiven are the two points of holy magnificence and holy modesty; round these two centres the whole doctrine of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/to-forgive-and-to-be-forgiven-are-the-two-points-of-holy-magnificence/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [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 was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Forgiven quotes > [You'd be forgiven for thinking that climate change means we'll have to sacrifice our creature comforts. 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Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The incorruptible things are all within the narrow gate. The peace of God which passed all understanding - the bright hope of good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-incorruptible-things-are-all-within-the-narrow-gate-the-peace-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I have forgiven all the old actors for dying. A new one comes on with the same lines, like large white growths, in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-have-forgiven-all-the-old-actors-for-dying-a-new-one-comes-on-with/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [How could one comfort a disturbed person? He is already assailed with doubts about his faith. He would have to despair with such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-f-w-walther/how-could-one-comfort-a-disturbed-person-he-is-already-assailed-with/) [C. F. W. Walther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-f-w-walther/) > [“Maybe it’s about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/maybe-it-s-about-who-can-do-what-to-whom-and-be-forgiven-for-it/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Make your past to be forgiven in peace. Forget thy heart breaking moments you had to go through. God will heal you out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bigheartedperson/make-your-past-to-be-forgiven-in-peace-forget-thy-heart-breaking/) [BigHeartedPerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bigheartedperson/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“To Graduate from the "School of Life" you need to have met the following criteria: Found your life purpose, know how the egoic mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-g-roussou/to-graduate-from-the-school-of-life-you-need-to-have-met-the/) [Marina G. Roussou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-g-roussou/) > [I'm washed, I'm forgiven, I'm whole, and I'm healed. I'm cleansed and I'm glory bound. I am only a sojourner on the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/i-m-washed-i-m-forgiven-i-m-whole-and-i-m-healed-i-m-cleansed-and-i-m/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“Some enemies are not worthy of being forgiven, even if they are forgiven a million times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/some-enemies-are-not-worthy-of-being-forgiven-even-if-they-are/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [“Nobody's perfect, Horace. But you're forgiven for assuming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sanders/nobody-s-perfect-horace-but-you-re-forgiven-for-assuming/) [Ted Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sanders/) [Browse all 785 Forgiven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiven/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I should have. 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