250 Apology Quotes: Powerful Lines on Saying Sorry

You will find short sorry quotes perfect for messages and cards, thoughtful lines about humility and reconciliation, and even a few funny ones to break the ice. Browse by theme below, and don’t miss our Editor’s Picks for the very best of the collection.

Psychologists have found that a well-crafted apology can genuinely repair trust — what matters most is acknowledging the harm, taking responsibility, and showing that you will do better. The Greater Good Science Center’s guide to making an effective apology breaks down the research on what makes a sorry land.

The Courage to Say Sorry

Saying sorry takes courage — it means admitting you were wrong and opening yourself up to the other person’s response. These apology quotes celebrate the bravery of that first step.

1. “An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything.” — Lynn Johnston
2. “It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them.” — P.G. Wodehouse
3. “A stiff apology is a second insult.” — G.K. Chesterton
4. “Never ruin an apology with an excuse.” — Attributed to Benjamin Franklin
5. “Apologizing does not always mean that you are wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.” — Unknown
6. “An apology without change is just manipulation.” — Unknown
7. “The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.” — Unknown
8. “A sincere apology has three parts: I am sorry, it was my fault, and how can I make it right.” — Unknown
9. “Sorry means you leave yourself open, to embrace or to ridicule or to revenge. Sorry is a question that begs forgiveness, because the metronome of a heart won’t settle till things are set right.” — Jonathan Safran Foer
10. “Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift.” — Margaret Lee Runbeck
11. “Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.” — H. Jackson Brown Jr.
12. “Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past.” — Tryon Edwards
13. “To apologize is to lay the foundation for a future offense.” — Ambrose Bierce
14. “Apologies require vulnerability. And vulnerability requires courage.” — Unknown
15. “A genuine apology is like a well-built bridge — it reconnects what was broken.” — Unknown

Asking for Forgiveness

Behind every sincere apology is a request: please forgive me. These quotes explore the grace of asking for — and granting — forgiveness.

1. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” — Alexander Pope
2. “The cut worm forgives the plow.” — William Blake
3. “Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” — Cherie Carter-Scott
4. “Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering — remembering and not using your right to hit back. It is a second chance for a new beginning.” — Desmond Tutu
5. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” — Lewis B. Smedes
6. “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” — Robert Muller
7. “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” — C.S. Lewis
8. “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” — C.S. Lewis
9. “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” — Corrie ten Boom
10. “I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible..” — Oscar Wilde
11. “He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” — Attributed to George Herbert
12. “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.” — Suzanne Somers
13. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
14. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
15. “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” — Bryant H. McGill
16. “Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.” — Hannah Arendt
17. “I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.” — Hawaiian Ho’oponopono prayer
18. “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

Owning Your Mistakes

The hardest two words in any language might be ‘I was wrong.’ These quotes are about accountability, honesty, and the strength it takes to own what you did.

1. “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” — Attributed to Bruce Lee
2. “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” — Maya Angelou
3. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou
4. “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius
5. “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” — Confucius
6. “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” — Confucius
7. “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” — Warren Buffett
8. “The buck stops here.” — Harry S. Truman
9. “When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.” — Attributed to Paul Bear Bryant
10. “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” — John C. Maxwell
11. “Admitting a mistake is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength and self-awareness.” — Unknown
12. “I am a very foolish fond old man.” — William Shakespeare (King Lear)
13. “Give me your pardon, sir: I’ve done you wrong.” — William Shakespeare (Hamlet)
14. “The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.” — William Shakespeare (The Merchant of Venice)
15. “I have done the state some service, and they know’t; no more of that.” — William Shakespeare (Othello)
16. “Owning your mistakes takes more strength than making them.” — Unknown
17. “A mistake is only a mistake if you refuse to own it.” — Unknown
18. “The moment you accept responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life.” — Hal Elrod

Making Amends

Words open the door, but actions walk through it. These quotes remind us that a real apology is followed by changed behavior and genuine repair.

1. “An apology is only as good as the change that follows it.” — Unknown
2. “It is not the size of the apology that matters, but the sincerity behind it.” — Unknown
3. “Words of apology mean little without actions of repair.” — Unknown
4. “The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.” — Henry Boye
5. “True remorse is never just a verbal act. True remorse is when you have changed your behavior.” — Unknown
6. “Don’t just say you’re sorry — show it. Changed behavior is the truest apology.” — Unknown
7. “Apology accepted does not mean the wound is healed; it means the healing can begin.” — Unknown
8. “Making amends is not about erasing the past; it is about building a better future.” — Unknown
9. “The best apology is changed behavior.” — Unknown
10. “Saying sorry is easy. Living sorry — showing through changed actions that you mean it — is the real work.” — Unknown
11. “Atonement without transformation is just theater.” — Unknown
12. “You can’t undo the past, but you can spend the present making it right.” — Unknown
13. “Rebuilding trust takes longer than breaking it, but every brick of honesty counts.” — Unknown
14. “An apology is the first brick; consistent action builds the house.” — Unknown
15. “Do not confuse the apology with the amends. One is words; the other is work.” — Unknown
16. “The sincerest apology is the one you never have to make twice.” — Unknown

Humility: The Heart of Every Apology

No apology survives pride. These quotes on humility show why letting go of ego is the foundation of every sincere ‘I’m sorry.’

1. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” — Attributed to C.S. Lewis
2. “Life is a long lesson in humility.” — James M. Barrie
3. “We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves.” — Thomas Merton
4. “A great man is always willing to be little.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
5. “The proud man can learn humility, but he will be proud of it.” — Mignon McLaughlin
6. “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.” — Confucius
7. “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” — Saint Augustine
8. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” — The Bible (Philippians 2:3)
9. “The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
10. “Humility is the ability to give up your pride and still retain your dignity.” — Vanna Bonta
11. “A humble apology bends the knee so the relationship can stand.” — Unknown
12. “Pride will not let you apologize; humility will not let you wait.” — Unknown
13. “To say ‘I was wrong’ is the shortest sentence in humility and the longest mile for pride.” — Unknown
14. “Humility is the doorway through which every genuine apology must pass.” — Unknown
15. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” — The Bible (Matthew 5:5)
16. “Ego says ‘never apologize.’ Wisdom says ‘apologize quickly.'” — Unknown

Forgiveness: The Other Half of Sorry

An apology is only half the exchange — forgiveness completes it. These quotes explore the healing power of letting go.

1. “Forgiveness is the economy of the heart… forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” — Hannah More
2. “Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.” — Roberto Assagioli
3. “Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.” — George MacDonald
4. “When you forgive, you in no way change the past — but you sure do change the future.” — Bernard Meltzer
5. “Forgiveness means letting go of the hope for a better past.” — Unknown
6. “The act of forgiveness takes from us our tendency to want revenge and replaces it with the power of grace.” — Unknown
7. “Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend.” — Jewel
8. “Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” — Attributed to Buddha
9. “Forgiveness is choosing to love. It is the first skill of self-giving love.” — Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi
10. “The merciful shall obtain mercy.” — The Bible (Matthew 5:7)
11. “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” — The Bible (Luke 6:37)
12. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — The Bible (Ephesians 4:32)
13. “Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it does prevent the behavior from destroying your heart.” — Unknown
14. “Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.” — Indira Gandhi
15. “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment., the world will know peace.” — Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi
16. “Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear.” — Nelson Mandela
17. “There is no future without forgiveness.” — Desmond Tutu
18. “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” — Nelson Mandela

Apology Quotes for Love and Relationships

In love, pride is the enemy and humility is the hero. These apology quotes are for partners learning that ‘I’m sorry’ can be the most romantic sentence of all.

1. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” — Erich Segal (Love Story)
2. “Assumptions are the termites of relationships.” — Henry Winkler
3. “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” — Robert Quillen
4. “Love cures people — both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.” — Karl Menninger
5. “In real love, saying sorry is not a defeat — it is a devotion.” — Unknown
6. “A great relationship is about two things: first, appreciating the similarities, and second, respecting the differences — and apologizing for the rest.” — Unknown
7. “I’m sorry” are the three hardest words to say in any relationship — and the three most healing.” — Unknown
8. “Love is not just about saying ‘I love you.’ It is about saying ‘I was wrong’ and meaning it.” — Unknown
9. “The couples that are meant to be are the ones who go through everything designed to tear them apart and come out even stronger — usually because somebody learned to say sorry.” — Unknown
10. “Apologize to the people you love before pride writes a check your heart cannot cash.” — Unknown
11. “A sorry from the heart can rebuild what a thousand arguments destroyed.” — Unknown
12. “Never let pride be the third person in your relationship.” — Unknown
13. “I would rather lose an argument and keep you than win the argument and lose you.” — Unknown
14. “Sorry is the bandage; time and tenderness are the cure.” — Unknown
15. “Love keeps no record of wrongs — but it treasures every sincere apology.” — Unknown
16. “If you love someone, tell them. If you hurt someone, tell them you’re sorry. Tomorrow is not promised.” — Unknown
17. “The best apology in love is not ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ but ‘I’m sorry I made you feel that way.'” — Unknown
18. “Never say ‘I’m sorry, but…’ — the ‘but’ erases everything before it.” — Unknown
19. “A relationship without apologies is a relationship without honesty.” — Unknown
20. “Saying sorry doesn’t mean you’re admitting defeat; it means you’re choosing love over ego.” — Unknown

Sorry in Friendship and Family

The people closest to us absorb our worst moments — and deserve our best apologies. These quotes are for friends, parents, siblings, and children.

1. “A friend is a person who knows all about you, and still loves you.” — Elbert Hubbard
2. “True friends stab you in the front.” — Oscar Wilde
3. “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — Walter Winchell
4. “Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” — Attributed to Albert Camus
5. “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” — Kahlil Gibran
6. “Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.” — Gail Lumet Buckley
7. “The family is the first essential cell of human society.” — Pope John XXIII
8. “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” — Thomas Jefferson
9. “Family is where the deepest hurts happen — and where the bravest apologies are owed.” — Unknown
10. “Call your mother. Say you’re sorry. It is never the wrong time.” — Unknown
11. “Children learn forgiveness by watching their parents apologize.” — Unknown
12. “The greatest gift a parent can give a child is the example of a sincere apology.” — Unknown
13. “Blood makes you related; apologies make you family again.” — Unknown
14. “A brother’s apology can heal what a lifetime of silence cannot.” — Unknown
15. “Friends forgive the mistake; best friends forgive before you even apologize.” — Unknown
16. “Never go to bed angry — and never let an apology wait until morning if it can be said tonight.” — Unknown
17. “The older we get, the more we realize that ‘I’m sorry’ to family is never said enough.” — Unknown
18. “An apology to a friend costs nothing and buys back everything.” — Unknown
19. “Home is where they have to take you in — but only an apology makes them glad you came back.” — Unknown
20. “Forgive your family quickly; life is too short for proud silences.” — Unknown
21. “The family that apologizes together stays together.” — Unknown
22. “Tell your father you’re sorry while he can still hear it.” — Unknown

Wisdom of the Ages: Philosophers on Wrongdoing

Long before modern psychology, philosophers wrestled with error, responsibility, and making things right. Their wisdom still guides every sincere apology.

1. “Errare humanum est — to err is human.” — Attributed to Seneca
2. “While we wait for life, life passes.” — Attributed to Seneca
3. “It is the part of a wise man to resist pleasures, but of a fool to be a slave to them.” — Epictetus
4. “Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” — Epictetus
5. “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus
6. “We learn not in the school, but in life.” — Seneca
7. “He who is brave is free.” — Seneca
8. “The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable.” — Seneca
9. “If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” — Seneca
10. “To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.” — Seneca
11. “Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people..” — Socrates
12. “I know that I know nothing.” — Socrates
13. “He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it.” — Plato
14. “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” — Plato
15. “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” — Plato
16. “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” — Aristotle
17. “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” — Aristotle
18. “Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.” — Aristotle

Literary Apologies: Sorry in Classic Literature

Great writers have always known the dramatic power of remorse. These lines from classic literature capture guilt, confession, and redemption.

1. “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” — Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities)
2. “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” — Charles Dickens
3. “I am sorry” is the beginning of every redemption story ever written.” — Unknown
4. “I wanted to tell you that wherever I am, whatever happens, I will always think of you, and the time we spent together, as my happiest time.” — Charles Dickens (David Copperfield)
5. “I am Heathcliff — he’s always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.” — Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights)
6. “Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.” — Charlotte Brontë (Jane Eyre)
7. “We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.” — Jane Austen (Mansfield Park)
8. “Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.” — Jane Austen (Mansfield Park)
9. “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.” — Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
10. “I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing.” — Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
11. “Till this moment I never knew myself.” — Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
12. “It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy; it is disposition alone.” — Jane Austen (Sense and Sensibility)
13. “The attempt was all.” — Ian McEwan (Atonement)
14. “How guilt refines the methods of self-torture, threading the beads of detail into an eternal loop, a rosary to be fingered for a lifetime.” — Ian McEwan (Atonement)
15. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” — Attributed to Edmund Burke
16. “I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” — Oscar Wilde
17. “I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” — Oscar Wilde (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
18. “With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” — Oscar Wilde

History’s Famous Apologies

From presidential addresses to papal masses, history remembers the moments leaders admitted fault. These are some of the most famous apologies ever spoken.

1. “By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of that process of healing which is so desperately needed in America.” — Richard Nixon
2. “Indeed, I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong.” — Bill Clinton
3. “We were wrong, terribly wrong.” — Robert McNamara
4. “We say sorry.” — Kevin Rudd
5. “I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.” — Tiger Woods
6. “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.” — Will Smith
7. “I did a bad thing.” — Hugh Grant
8. “We forgive and we ask forgiveness.” — Pope John Paul II
9. “There is an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan. I am the responsible officer of the government.” — John F. Kennedy
10. “A great nation is a nation that can apologize.” — Unknown
11. “Nations, like people, must sometimes say they were wrong — and mean it.” — Unknown
12. “History remembers the apology as clearly as it remembers the offense.” — Unknown
13. “The strongest leaders in history were not those who never erred, but those who owned their errors.” — Unknown
14. “An apology from power is rare; that is why it matters.” — Unknown
15. “When leaders apologize sincerely, nations begin to heal.” — Unknown
16. “Public apologies are judged not by their eloquence but by the change that follows.” — Unknown
17. “To apologize publicly is to admit privately, in front of everyone.” — Unknown

Leadership, Work, and Owning It

Accountability builds trust in offices as surely as in homes. These quotes are about owning mistakes at work and leading with integrity.

1. “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” — Theodore Roosevelt
2. “I do the very best I know how — the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.” — Abraham Lincoln
3. “I failed my way to success.” — Thomas Edison
4. “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” — Winston Churchill
5. “The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill
6. “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” — Rosalynn Carter
7. “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek
8. “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born.” — Warren Bennis
9. “Duty is ours; results are God’s.” — John Quincy Adams
10. “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
11. “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” — Peter Drucker
12. “The best leaders apologize first and take credit last.” — Unknown
13. “A boss says ‘go’; a leader who has erred says ‘I was wrong — follow me forward.'” — Unknown
14. “Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result.” — Bob Proctor
15. “Take responsibility for your mistakes at work before someone else has to.” — Unknown
16. “The fastest way to rebuild trust at work is a prompt, honest apology.” — Unknown
17. “Great teams are built on great apologies.” — Unknown
18. “Own the error, fix the error, learn from the error — in that order.” — Unknown

Short Sorry Quotes for Messages and Cards

Sometimes you need just a few sincere words — for a text, a card, or a note slipped under a door. These short apology quotes say it simply.

1. “I’m sorry.” — Unknown
2. “I was wrong. Forgive me.” — Unknown
3. “Please forgive me.” — Unknown
4. “I owe you an apology.” — Unknown
5. “My mistake. I’m truly sorry.” — Unknown
6. “I messed up. I’m sorry.” — Unknown
7. “You deserved better from me.” — Unknown
8. “I take it all back — and I mean it this time.” — Unknown
9. “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.” — Bernie Taupin
10. “I would rather say sorry now than lose you forever.” — Unknown
11. “Forgive my faults; remember my love.” — Unknown
12. “I’m sorry for the words I can’t take back.” — Unknown
13. “Let my apology be the first step back to you.” — Unknown
14. “I can’t undo it, but I can own it. I’m sorry.” — Unknown
15. “Every ‘I’m sorry’ is a small act of bravery.” — Unknown
16. “Don’t let the sun set on an unspoken apology.” — Unknown
17. “Short, sincere, and soon — that’s how apologies work best.” — Unknown
18. “I was wrong, you were right, I’m sorry.” — Unknown
19. “If I could rewind, I would. Since I can’t — I’m sorry.” — Unknown
20. “My pride kept me silent; my heart says sorry now.” — Unknown

Funny Apology Quotes

Humor can soften the hardest conversation. These funny apology quotes are for when a smile is the best icebreaker — use with care, and mean it.

1. “I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you.” — Robin Williams
2. “I’m not sorry. I’m just asking if you’re going to forgive me.” — Unknown
3. “I apologize for the things I said when I was hungry.” — Unknown
4. “Sorry I’m late. I didn’t want to come.” — Unknown
5. “I said ‘I’m sorry’ — what more do you want, a parade?” — Unknown
6. “My apologies are like my Wi-Fi — sometimes they don’t connect.” — Unknown
7. “I’m sorry for what I said when I was pretending to listen.” — Unknown
8. “An apology a day keeps the divorce lawyer away.” — Unknown
9. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings when I called you stupid. I thought you already knew.” — Unknown
10. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned — I used your good towels.” — Unknown
11. “I would apologize, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten what I did.” — Unknown
12. “Sorry about the mess. Blame the dog.” — Unknown
13. “I meant to apologize yesterday, but I was busy being right.” — Unknown
14. “I’m sorry I was right again.” — Unknown
15. “Apology accepted… now what were we arguing about?” — Unknown
16. “I come bearing apologies and chocolate. Mostly chocolate.” — Unknown

Editor’s Picks: The Very Best Apology Quotes

FAQs About Apology Quotes

What is a good short apology quote to send someone?

Short and sincere wins: “To err is human; to forgive, divine” (Alexander Pope) is a classic, while “I was wrong. Forgive me” works when you want plain honesty. The best short apology quotes acknowledge the fault without excuses — keep it to one or two lines and mean every word.

How do you write a sincere apology?

A sincere apology has three parts: name what you did wrong, take full responsibility without excuses, and say how you will make it right. As one line in this collection puts it, never ruin an apology with an excuse — and follow your words with changed behavior.

What is the most famous apology in history?

Some of history’s most famous apologies include Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation address hoping to hasten “the process of healing,” Bill Clinton’s 1998 admission that his behavior “was wrong,” and Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 “We say sorry” to the Stolen Generations — all featured in the collection above.

What should you never include in an apology?

Never include excuses, the word “but” (“I’m sorry, but…” erases everything before it), or conditional phrasing like “I’m sorry if you were offended,” which shifts blame to the hurt person. A real apology owns the action, not the reaction.

More Quotes to Explore

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