Hosea Ballou Quotes

True repentance always involves reform.

Remorse is impotent; it will repeat its faults. Repentance only is a true force; it puts an end to everything.

Remorse begets reform.

Mistakes you can learn from; sins stay with you forever.

A confession has to be part of your new life.

True atonement isn't the periodic shaving of karmic stubble via confessional; it requires deep, truthful change. It means doing the hardest thing of all: not making the same stupid mistake again.

Repentance, as we know, is basically not moaning and remorse, but turning and change.

It is never too late to turn from the errors of our ways: He who repents of his sins is almost innocent.

Repentance may begin instantly, but reformation often requires a sphere of years.

It is very true. But even a traitor may mend. I have known one that did.

It is true that we cannot be free from sin, but at least let our sins not always be the same.

Action is redemption.

Every one goes astray, but the least imprudent are they who repent the soonest.

Christian, non-Christian, we're going to miss the mark. We're going to make mistakes. How you handle those mistakes and get more fundamentally sound spiritually in dealing with those mistakes I think have a direct impact - not only on your spiritual life, but those around you.

I'm sure I have a lot to atone for, if there is a judgment day. It's gonna be a long list for me. It goes right up until I was about 18, and then I sort of straightened out.

I used to steal a lot. But I don't do that anymore, because I believe in karma.

I am making amends and seeking forgiveness. My only hope is that some good can come out of my situation.

Sadly, we do a much better job of making people feel guilty than we do of delivering them from the guilt we create. We need to confess this and change our ways.

I think everybody wants to redeem themselves after they've done something that might be considered negative. I don't think anyone wants to go to the grave negative.

I did a lot of things that I regretted and I certainly paid for my mistakes. You have to go and ask for forgiveness and it wasn't until I really started doing good and doing right, by other people as well as myself, that I really started to feel that guilt go away. So I don't have a problem going to sleep at night.

I don't think I'm bad for people. If I did think I was bad for people, I would go back to driving a truck, and I really mean this.

Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good.

But - but the greatest way to witness is by walking that straight and narrow and also realizing that you're going to mess up. That's what grace is for. We're going to fall, but we've got to get back up. And you've got to improve. And that's what I'm all about.

It's bad when you fail morally. It's worse when you don't repent.

Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change.