55 Phrases to Ask for Forgiveness and Repair Past Mistakes

The following phrases will help you ask for forgiveness, make peace with the past, and look to the future without hard feelings. Take note.

Sometimes, it’s hard to find the right words to tell someone you’re sorry, so it’s always good to know some phrases that can help you ask for forgiveness. The need to repair errors is something that we all experience, but it’s important to do it correctly.

Asking for forgiveness isn’t as simple as saying, “I’m sorry.” Non-verbal language, the emotional register, must accompany the words so that the other person feels that you’re being sincere. Having clarified all this, let’s look at some recommendations for apologizing in different situations below.

What should an apology be like to be valid?

Before moving on to the statements, we would like to make a note about what an apology should be like for it to be valid. As we mentioned, both verbal and gestural language are important. Therefore, you shouldn’t only pay attention to your words but also to your tone of voice and expression.

The key is to use assertiveness–the ability to express that you did something wrong, but not in an aggressive way that angers the other party. The emphasis is on your actions and how the other person felt.

If, on the other hand, you put all the emphasis on the other person’s attitude, this will be interpreted as blaming. The apology is then more likely to be interpreted as an attack and not lead to reparation. Here’s the basis for building our forgiveness.

Phrases to ask your partner for forgiveness

Building a solid relationship isn’t an easy task. You need to overcome many obstacles to achieve and maintain harmony and intimacy in the long term. Additionally, part of the process includes forgiving. These phrases to ask for forgiveness will give you an idea of how to go about it.

1. “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” (Bryan H. McGill)
2. “Strong relationships are built with a lot of love, patience, understanding and forgiveness.” (Latika Teotia)
3. “Love is staying together despite fights and arguments, and fighting so that things can get better.”
4. “The love we have for each other is greater than our disagreements, but this doesn’t justify my poor attitude.”
5. “Apologizing does not always mean you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means you value your relationship more than your ego.” (Mark Matthews)
6. “The mistakes I’ve made have helped me realize that you’re by my side. Therefore, I’m going to try harder to be the partner you deserve.”
7. “A perfect relationship isn’t when two perfect people are together, but when two imperfect people learn to deal with their differences.”
8. “If I could go back in time, I would, but I can’t. The only thing that I can do is fight for our future, but I need you to forgive me.”
9. “Never put off repairing a relationship you value. If sorry needs to be said, say it now. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us.” (Toni Sorenson)
10. “At this moment, perhaps my words don’t make sense. Still, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to tell you how sorry I am for my behavior. I hope you can understand.”

Phrases to apologize to a friend

The bond you have with a friend is one of the closest and strongest. However, sometimes this confidence is shaken. The next phrases remind us that it’s possible to restore a friendship with the practice of asking for forgiveness.

1. “My mistake was an accident, but our friendship is not. Please forgive me.”
2. “Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person’s throat.” (William Young)
3. “The biggest failure in this life is breaking the heart of a close friend. I’m sorry for everything I did wrong.”
4. “I don’t want you to give me your forgiveness because I want to earn it by showing you how sorry I am.”
5. “The best advice a friend gave me was to learn to forgive because, at some point, I’ll make a mistake.”
6. “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)
7. “A friend is one who apologizes when they’re wrong, but also one who calls you out when you’ve made a mistake.”
8. “A broken friendship that is mended through forgiveness can be even stronger than it once was.” (Stephen Richards)
9. “I may not be as smart as you, but I’m smart enough to realize that I hurt a friend.”
10. “You own a very special place in my heart, and I don’t want to lose you. I am really sorry.”

Phrases about the liberating power of forgiveness

Asking for forgiveness isn’t only something we do to reconcile with another person. In itself, it has a liberating and healing power for those who ask for it. By forgiving, we look at the ghosts of the past without shame and learn from them. Below, let’s look at some phrases related to this ability.

1. “Forgiveness is being able to go back to the past and come out unscathed.” (Ciruelle)
2. “He who is incapable of forgiving is incapable of loving.” (Martin Luther King)
3. “When I forgive, I do it because I care, not because it’s the right thing to do.” (Amanda Vega)
4. “When we forgive, the slave we free is ourselves.” (Edward Hallowell)
5. “Forgiveness is refusing to contaminate the future with the mistakes of the past.” (Craig Lounsbrough)
6. “Forgiveness is a silent gift that you leave at the door of those who have wronged you.” (Robert Enright)
7. “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” (Robert Muller)
8. “By forgiving, we become free to renew ourselves and open the joyful golden door of abundance.” (Debasish Mridha)
9. “Forgiveness is the value of the brave. Only he who is strong enough to forgive an offense knows how to love.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
10. “Be happy by forgiving or forgetting or doing both, but we can gain no happiness by holding grudges.” (Dinesh Kumar Radhakrishnan)
11. “When you initially forgive, it is like letting go of a hot iron. There is initial pain, and the scars will show, but you can start living again.” (Stephen Richards)
12. “We all need to be forgiven by others, so we must all be ready to forgive. Asking and granting forgiveness is something profoundly worthy of every one of us.” (John Paul II)

Phrases to ask for forgiveness between parent and child

Parent and child relationships are sometimes complicated. In this section, we’ll address phrases that, as children, we can use to ask for forgiveness from our parents or, on the other hand, for parents to ask for forgiveness from their children. There’s no error that love can’t correct.

1. “I may not be the best child, but you deserve the best apology.”
2. “You’ve always accepted me as I am without expecting anything in return. I’ll change my attitude.”
3. “No one knows me like you do, so you’ll know that my apology is completely sincere.”
4. “There are things that we don’t choose. My greatest fortune in life is to have a parent who’s as understanding as you.”
5. “I know you set limits for me because you love me. That’s why I have to apologize for having surpassed them.”
6. “You’ve always strived to be the best parent ever. I’m not the best child, but I’m the one who appreciates you the most.”
7. “You made an effort to fill me with love and affection, and all I’ve done is fill you with worries. I’m very sorry.”
8. “My only intention was to make you proud of me, but instead, I did the opposite. Please forgive me.”
9. “As a parent, the only thing you want is for me to be happy, and as a child, what I want is for you to be proud of me. What I did wasn’t in line with that. Please forgive me.”
10. “A parent is someone who supports you when you cry, who scolds you when you break the rules, who shines with pride when you succeed, and who has faith in you when no one else does.”

Phrases to apologize for your attitude toward others or toward yourself

One of the most difficult things to do is to ask for forgiveness from yourself, either for the attitude you’ve had toward other people or for being too self-demanding. You need to apologize to yourself for your mistakes and forgive yourself so that your past doesn’t haunt you in the future. Take note of these phrases:

1. “The greatest act of love is knowing how to forgive yourself.”
2. “How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself.” (Publilio Syrus)
3. “Ego and pride laugh at apologies. Humility accepts forgiveness.”
4. “I forgive myself to free myself from the burden of doubt, shame, and guilt.”
5. “Brave is to forgive yourself. Forgiving others is a sensible thing to do.”
6. “Forgiveness doesn’t change the past, but it does have the power to create a better future.”
7. “I forgive myself because I love myself, and I’m not willing to stay stuck in the past.”
8. “If you haven’t forgiven yourself for something, how can you expect to forgive others?” (Dolores Huerta)
9. “He who hasn’t learned to forgive himself will not be able to forgive others.” (Eduardo Alighieri)
10. “We are supposed to forgive everyone; everyone includes ourselves.” (Denis Waitley)
11. “If I had to apologize to anyone, it would be me, for all the times I didn’t defend myself when others treated me badly.”

Practice the magic of forgiveness for others and for yourself

In the process of building a healthy relationship with another person or with yourself, you’ll go through difficult times. The important thing is not to avoid them but to face them bravely, which is synonymous with being able to recognize mistakes and ask for forgiveness for them.

These phrases contribute to achieving this goal, but it’s not only a matter of what’s said but how it’s said. Your words should be accompanied by a tone of voice, gestures, posture, and sincerity that shows true regret.

If this aspect is difficult for you, it’s best to try it in front of a mirror. This way, you’ll have immediate feedback on how others see you. With all this in mind, you have enough tools to start practicing this skill.