[I]t is dangerous for a bride to be apologetic about her husband.

The two main criminals are France and the United States. They owe Haiti enormous reparations because of actions going back hundreds of years. If we could ever get to the stage where somebody could say, 'We're sorry we did it,' that would be nice. But if that just assuages guilt, it's just another crime. To become minimally civilized, we would have to say, 'We carried out and benefited from vicious crimes. A large part of the wealth of France comes from the crimes we committed against Haiti, and the United States gained as well. Therefore we are going to pay reparations to the Haitian people.' Then you will see the beginnings of civilization.

He sighed. I don't think an apology will do, Mercy. Because an apology implies that you wouldn't do it again. And, under the circumstances, you wouldn't do anything differently, would you?No.

There was nothing else I could do but say sorry myself. His apology had left a residue in me, a residue on my thinking, and continuing on in this house without saying it would be entirely awkward. It would turn the small space toxic. So I said it, though I tried to lessen the potency of the apology by mumbling.

I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious thing. I apologize if that will make you happy. I still don't know quite what I've done. I've tried to tell you what I did do but if you want me to apologize, if that will make you happy, then OK, I'm sorry.

When she opened her door, Levi was sitting in the hallway, his legs bent in front of him, hunched forward on his knees. He looked up when she stepped out."I'm such an idiot," he said.Cath fell between his knees and hugged him."I can't believe I said that," he said. —I can't even go nine hours without seeing you.

I thought to myself: I am wiser than this man; neither of us probably knows anything that is really good, but he thinks he has knowledge, when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do not think I have.

Leo lowered his screwdriver. He looked at the ceiling and shook his head like, What am I gonna do with this guy? I try very hard to be annoying, Leo said. Don't insult my ability to annoy. And how am I supposed to resent you if you go apologizing? I'm a lowly mechanic. You're like the prince of the sky, son of the Lord of the Universe. I'm supposed to resent you. Lord of the Universe? (Jason) Sure, you're all-bam! Lightning man. And 'Watch me fly. I am the eagle that soars- (Leo) Shut up, Valdez. (Jason) Leo managed a little smile. Yeah, see. I do annoy you. I apologize for apologizing. (Jason) Thank you. He went back to work, but the tension had eased between them. Leo still looked sad and exhausted-just not quite so angry.

An apology is the superglue of life! It can repair just about anything!!

It is incredible how many hurts can be healed by the two words, 'I'm sorry.

When your only regret is if anyone thinks you regret anything - that is the definition of conviction.

When you have to apologize, it is well, I suppose, to get the thing over quickly ...

We have in my country (Russia) a quotation: It is impossible to make out of apology a fur coat.

Never ruin an apology with an excuse.

To apologize is to lay the foundation for a future offence.

Apologies are seldom of any use.

Excuse me, pray. Without that excuse I would not have known there was anything amiss.

Apology is only egotism wrong side out.

Apologies only account for that which they do not alter.

I asked Tom if countries always apologized when they had done wrong, and he says: 'Yes; the little ones does.'