Buddha said : Holding on to anger, is like holding burning coal in your hand to throw at others. You end up hurting yourself more. Jesus Christ said on the cross of the people who crucified him : 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do' This is the greatest act of forgiveness practiced by divine souls. On the other hand, resentment, grudges are slow poison, so sooner you let go, the better.
I found these as well:
- Subvert anger by forgiveness.
1.Jainism. Samanasuttam 136
- The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget.
2.Islam (Shiite). Nahjul Balagha, Saying 201
- Where there is forgiveness, there is God Himself.
3.Sikhism. Adi Granth, Shalok, Kabir, p. 1372
- If you efface and overlook and forgive, then lo! God is forgiving, merciful.
4.Islam. Qur'an 64.14
- The superior man tends to forgive wrongs and deals leniently with crimes.
5.Confucianism. I Ching 40: Release
- If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
6.Christianity. Matthew 5.23-24
- The Day of Atonement atones for sins against God, not for sins against man, unless the injured person has been appeased.
7.Judaism. Mishnah, Yoma 8.9
- Show endurance in humiliation and bear no grudge.
8.Taoism. Treatise on Response and Retribution
- You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
9.Judaism and Christianity. Leviticus 19.18
- Who takes vengeance or bears a grudge acts like one who, having cut one hand while handling a knife, avenges himself by stabbing the other hand.
10.Judaism. Jerusalem Talmud, Nedarim 9.4
- Moses son of Imran said, "My Lord, who is the greatest of Thy servants in Thy estimation?" and received the reply, "The one who forgives when he is in a position of power."
11.Islam. Hadith of Baihaqi
- Better and more rewarding is God's reward to those who believe and put their trust in Him: who avoid gross sins and indecencies and, when angered, are willing to forgive... Let evil be rewarded by like evil, but he who forgives and seeks reconciliation shall be rewarded by God. He does not love the wrongdoers.... True constancy lies in forgiveness and patient forbearance.
12.Islam. Qur'an 42.36-43
- In reconciling a great injury,
Some injury is sure to remain.
How can this be good?
Therefore the sage holds the left-hand tally [obligation] of a contract;
He does not blame others.
The person of virtue attends to the obligation;
The person without virtue attends to the exactions.
13.Taoism. Tao Te Ching 79