I shall never permit myself to stoop so low as to hate any man.

Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way.

If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.

When a man but half forgives his enemy, it is like leaving a bag of rusty nails to interpose between them.

Forgiveness is the fragrance that is left on the heel that crushed the violet.

Jesus is the Truth, and He is the One who sets the captive free. Power for the believer comes in knowing and choosing the truth. We are to pursue truth because we already have all the power we need in Christ (see Ephesians 1:18-19). Furthermore, people in bondage are not liberated by what I do as a pastor, but by what they choose to believe, confess, renounce, and forgive.

can understand how a kindly, patriotic man like Hayes would be charmed by the prospect. I was as anxious for such a policy as Mr. Hayes. There has never been a moment since Lee surrendered that I would not have gone more than halfway to meet the Southern people in a spirit of conciliation. But they have never responded to it. They have not forgotten the war.

A benevolent malefactor, merciful, gentle, helpful, clement, a convict, returning good for evil, giving back pardon for hatred, preferring pity to vengeance, preferring to ruin himself rather than to ruin his enemy, saving him who had smitten him, kneeling on the heights of virtue, more nearly akin to an angel than to a man. Javert was constrained to admit to himself that this monster existed. Things could not go on in this manner.

Have mercy, and forgive us, Father. We've saved our sacred images, but sacrificed Your image within our souls.

Peace comes with forgiveness. And sometimes forgiveness must be earned—not from other men, but from our own hearts and spirits.

I believed that was the point of real forgiveness: It was freely given. Grace-filled. Unsolicited.

Happy or unhappy, families are all mysterious. We have only to imagine how differently we would be described - and will be, after our deaths - by each of the family members who believe they know us.