The Atoner/Quotes

"Long is the way, and hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light."

- John Milton, Paradise Lost

"It's irrelevant now. I don't have any responsibility for you. I don't need to warn you where your need for forgiveness will take you. (Flings Karl into a brick wall) Atonement is at best a journey of uncertain length and destination. But so is Revenge, of course. We both embrace our own destruction. Goodbye, Karl."

- Meleos, Lucifer

"Falling from heaven is not as painful as surviving the impact."

- Tormented Angel, Magic the Gathering

" (...) If you spoke to these others that were here, know that a fraction of the evil of their lives is but a drop of water compared to the evil of mine. That life, that one life, even without the thousands of others, has given us a seat in the Lower Planes for eternity. The Nameless One: But you seem so much... calmer. More well-intentioned. I became that way, yes. Because for me... It is regret that may change the nature of a man. But it was too late. I was already damned."

- Planescape: Torment

"Teal'c: One day others may try to convince you they have forgiven you. That is more about them than you. For them, imparting forgiveness is a blessing. Tomin: How do you go on? Teal'c: It is simple. You will never forgive yourself. Accept it. You hurt others many others. That cannot be undone. You will never find personal retribution. But your life does not have to end. That which is right, just, and true can still prevail. If you do not fight for what you believe in, all may be lost for everyone else. But do not fight for yourself. Fight for others, others that may be saved through your effort. That is the least you can do."

- Stargate: The Ark of Truth

"Bekhesh: A lifetime of killing and extortion takes its toll. Crichton: Yeah, especially on those you kill and extort.

Bekhesh: Yes... but also on myself. During a hostage raid we captured a priest - a disciple of the Writ of Taru. He refused to eat or sleep: all he would do, day and night, was preach, whether anyone was listening or not. I executed him... but I kept his writ. I don't know why. One day I started reading; they were words of peace, but they made me feel... better. Then one day I took off my gauntlet and I threw it away."

- Farscape

"I'm not one to despise people for their sins. I haven't found one yet, that I didn't say inside myself, "I've done worse than this.""

- Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, Speaker for the Dead

"I have done terrible things, things which I can never undo. I've walked a very dark path. All I can do is to fight to stop the evil ideas for which I once fought. If I can do that, then I can earn redemption in my own heart."

- Nicci, Confessor

"At that instant the scales fell from my eyes, and I joined the service of the same God whose name I once cursed."

- The Phantom Stranger, from one of his four Multiple Choice Pasts in Secret Origins

"I've got red on my ledger. I'd like to wipe it out."

- Black Widow, The Avengers