quotations about repentance
The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.
WILLIAM HAZLITT
Selected Essays, 1778-1830
Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
ALDOUS HUXLEY
Brave New World
Repentance doth alter a man's case with God: and therefore repentance should alter the case between one man and another.
BENJAMIN WHICHCOTE
Moral and Religious Aphorisms
Neither angel, nor archangel, nor yet even the Lord himself--who alone can say, "I am with you"--can, when we have sinned, release us, unless we bring repentance with us.
ST. AMBROSE
attributed, Day's Collacon
The sense of repentance is better assurance of pardon than the testimony of an angel.
BENJAMIN WHICHCOTE
Moral and Religious Aphorisms
He comes never late who comes repentant.
JUAN DE HOROZCO
Manasses
Of all acts, is not, for a man, repentance the most divine? The deadliest sin, I say, were that same supercilious consciousness of no sin.
THOMAS CARLYLE
"The Hero as Prophet", Sartor Resartus
When a child can be brought to tears, not from fear of punishment, but from repentance of his offense, he needs no chastisement. When the tears begin to flow from grief at one's own conduct, be sure there is an angel nestling in the bosom.
HORACE MANN
Thoughts
In repentance itself, arising from a timely discovery of our guilt and danger, there is no ground for pain, but much for gratitude and satisfaction.
JABEZ BUNTING
Sermons
When the scourge
Inexorable, and the torturing hour
Calls us to penance.
JOHN MILTON
Paradise Lost
Repentance is a magistrate that exacts the strictest duty and humility, because the reward it gives is inestimable and everlasting; and the pain and punishment it redeems men from, is of the same continuance and yet intolerable.
EDWARD HYDE, EARL OF CLARENDON
Essays Moral and Entertaining: On the Various Faculties and Passions of the Human Mind