--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be gentle with yourself, learn to love…" description: "\"Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right att..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg" --- # Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to… ![“Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others.” quote by Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg) > “Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others.” [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑compassion is the foundation for healthy relationships; caring for oneself enables genuine empathy toward others. **In simple terms:** Self‑care precedes caring for others. Key Takeaway Treat yourself kindly to treat others well. Themes self‑compassion empathy personal growth relationships mindset Mood reflective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - recovering from failure - stressful work environment - healing after loss - personal development workshops Key Concepts self‑acceptance forgiveness emotional intelligence Practical Applications - mental‑health counseling - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - How does your inner dialogue affect your interactions? - What practices help you nurture self‑kindness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Compassion for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-for-yourself/) [Forgive yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-yourself/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Learn to love yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-to-love-yourself/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-yourself/) [Love yourself more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-yourself-more/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) ## Related quotes > [The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-peterson/the-art-of-being-yourself-at-your-best-is-the-art-of-unfolding-your/) Wilfred Peterson > [Loving yourself...does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-anand/loving-yourself-does-not-mean-being-self-absorbed-or-narcissistic-or/) [Margot Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-anand/) > [You don't need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/you-don-t-need-to-be-accepted-by-others-you-need-to-accept-yourself/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [“Mind power use is neither a religion nor an elaborate program. You have everything within you to succeed: right attitude and right intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/mind-power-use-is-neither-a-religion-nor-an-elaborate-program-you/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [We need the right attitude and the right motivation - that can decide the match above everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ramos/we-need-the-right-attitude-and-the-right-motivation-that-can-decide/) [Sergio Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ramos/) > [I would rather have the wrong facts and a right attitude, than right facts and a wrong attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-smith/i-would-rather-have-the-wrong-facts-and-a-right-attitude-than-right/) [Chuck Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-smith/) > [“Better you forgive than being right. Put your pride in your pocket and bring out Love for CHRIST sake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-uwandu/better-you-forgive-than-being-right-put-your-pride-in-your-pocket-and/) [James C. Uwandu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-uwandu/) > [Stop acting like you care a lot,after all the damage you've been done, it seems like I can't forgive you right away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coraege/stop-acting-like-you-care-a-lot-after-all-the-damage-you-ve-been-done/) Coraege > [If you don't know how to forgive then you have no right to do the same mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne23/if-you-don-t-know-how-to-forgive-then-you-have-no-right-to-do-the/) Dianne23 > [“Aki: Oh, crap, he's actually out this time. If he asks, say he hit his head falling down. Keisha: He'll forgive you. Right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-isaro/aki-oh-crap-he-s-actually-out-this-time-if-he-asks-say-he-hit-his/) [Ian Isaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-isaro/) > [People will always forgive you for being wrong - but they'll never forgive you for being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-always-forgive-you-for-being-wrong-but-they-ll-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To err is human, but to forgive, well that's right on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-vaughn/to-err-is-human-but-to-forgive-well-that-s-right-on/) [Vince Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-vaughn/) > [If you cannot forgive someone, you have no right in committing mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/era-o-gutierrez/if-you-cannot-forgive-someone-you-have-no-right-in-committing-mistakes/) Eraño Gutierrez > [“Forgiveness is what happens when you can honestly move past something and let it go. Stupidity is what happens when you tell someone “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-g/forgiveness-is-what-happens-when-you-can-honestly-move-past-something/) [Whitney G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-g/) > [Please keep your distance from my feelings, They're broken enough. Don't apologize, I've herd enough hard words, everything's falling apart. Don't touch my heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/please-keep-your-distance-from-my-feelings-they-re-broken-enough-don/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Wilferd Peterson > [Imagination helps you to recognize the reality of facts, but then to go beyond them, to penetrate beneath them, to rise above them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/imagination-helps-you-to-recognize-the-reality-of-facts-but-then-to/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Words of encouragement fan the spark of genius into the flame of achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/words-of-encouragement-fan-the-spark-of-genius-into-the-flame-of/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Cynics and critics wake us up. Kindness often covers up the truth and allows us to sleep on in our ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/cynics-and-critics-wake-us-up-kindness-often-covers-up-the-truth-and/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Every forward step achieved by man has been due to the adventurous attitude. This attitude inspires dissatisfaction with the world as it is; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/every-forward-step-achieved-by-man-has-been-due-to-the-adventurous/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [I believe that God is a power underneath my life here on earth. His goodness undergirds me and uplifts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/i-believe-that-god-is-a-power-underneath-my-life-here-on-earth-his/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Champion the right to be yourself; dare to be different and to set your own pattern, live your own life, and follow your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/champion-the-right-to-be-yourself-dare-to-be-different-and-to-set/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [The best leaders are very often the best listeners. They have an open mind. They are not interested in having their own way but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/the-best-leaders-are-very-often-the-best-listeners-they-have-an-open/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [We can make these three dynamic words - "reverence for life" - a part of our lives by becoming aware that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/we-can-make-these-three-dynamic-words-reverence-for-life-a-part-of/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [You visualize yourself as the person you want to be. You strive to make the ideal in your mind become a reality on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/you-visualize-yourself-as-the-person-you-want-to-be-you-strive-to/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Success is not arriving at the summit of a mountain as a final destination. It is a continuing upward spiral of progress. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/success-is-not-arriving-at-the-summit-of-a-mountain-as-a-final/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [There are no secrets of success. Success is doing the things you know you should do. Success is not doing the things you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/there-are-no-secrets-of-success-success-is-doing-the-things-you-know/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Success is relative and individual and personal. It is your answer to the problem of making your minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/success-is-relative-and-individual-and-personal-it-is-your-answer-to/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Prayer is dedicating our thought, feeling and action to the expression of goodness. It is to become like a window through which the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/prayer-is-dedicating-our-thought-feeling-and-action-to-the-expression/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Work miracles by setting a good example. Others will catch your spirit! The power of a good example is the greatest miracle-working power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/work-miracles-by-setting-a-good-example-others-will-catch-your-spirit/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [In gratitude for God's gift of life to us we should share that gift with others. The art of giving encompasses many areas. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/in-gratitude-for-god-s-gift-of-life-to-us-we-should-share-that-gift/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) [Explore all 105 Wilferd Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilferd Peterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yourself-to-forgive-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yourself-to-forgive-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/wilferd-peterson-4878_attitude_be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yo_16500.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude…” — Wilferd Peterson", "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": "Wilferd Peterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be gentle with yourself, learn to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yourself-to-forgive-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yourself-to-forgive-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```