Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.

Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983), a Dutch Christian who helped hide Jews during the Nazi occupation, survived Ravensbrück concentration camp and later became an international speaker on faith, trauma, and reconciliation. This line is commonly associated with her postwar teaching on forgiveness, shaped by her experiences of loss and by encounters in which she urged forgiveness even when emotions lagged behind. In her talks and writings, she often distinguished between feelings and the deliberate choice to forgive, presenting forgiveness as obedience and practice rather than a spontaneous sentiment.

The quote argues that forgiveness is primarily a decision, not an emotion. “Act of the will” frames forgiveness as something one can choose even when the “heart” feels cold, angry, or wounded. The “temperature” metaphor suggests that inner feelings fluctuate, but moral agency can still operate. Ten Boom’s emphasis is practical: waiting to feel forgiving may postpone reconciliation indefinitely, whereas choosing forgiveness can be the first step that later reshapes emotions. It also implies a discipline of separating justice or memory from vengeance, making forgiveness a deliberate commitment to release personal retaliation.

1) “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
2) “Forgiveness is a decision of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
3) “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the heart’s temperature.”