"An apology is a promise to do things differently…

“An apology is a promise to do things differently next time, and to keep the promise” is a saying that has been printed on several images. The apology saying comes from Hunter × Hunter, a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. The saying means that the person apologizing did something wrong, promises not to do the wrong again in the future, and intends to keep the promise.

On the episode “Chairman × And × Release” that originally aired on September 9, 2014, the character Ging Freecss said:

“When apologizing to a friend, there’s a rule. You promise to do things differently next time. And you keep that promise, no matter what.”

This is frequently re-worded. “‘An apology is a promise to do things differently next time, and to keep the promise.’ - Ging Freecs” was posted on Twitter by elle19∞ on October 2, 2016.

Wikipedia: Hunter x Hunter
Hunter × Hunter (Japanese: ハンター×ハンター Hepburn: Hantā Hantā) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since March 16, 1998, although the manga has frequently gone on extended hiatuses since 2006. As of October 2018, 380 chapters have been collected into 36 volumes by Shueisha. The story focuses on a young boy named Gon Freecss, who discovers that his father, who he was told had left him at a young age, is actually a world renowned Hunter, a licensed profession for those who specialize in, but are not limited to, fantastic pursuits such as locating rare or unidentified animal species, treasure hunting, surveying unexplored enclaves, or hunting down lawless individuals.

Wikipedia: Hunter x Hunter (2011 TV series)
Hunter × Hunter is an anime television series that aired from 2011 to 2014 based on Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter × Hunter manga. The story begins with a young boy named Gon Freecss, who one day discovers that the father who he thought was dead, is in fact alive and well. He learns that his father, Ging, is a legendary “Hunter”, an individual who has proven themselves an elite member of humanity.
(...)
146 10 “Chairman × And × Release”
Transcription: “Kaichō to Hōshutsu” (Japanese: カイチョウ × ト × ホウシュツ) Aki Hayashi Tsutomu Kamishiro September 10, 2014 June 8, 2019
Gon apologizes to Ging for failing to save Kite and his father instructs him to apologize to Kite himself instead, affirming that he will wait for him to return. Pariston wins the election, but he renounces the position in favor of Cheadle as chairman of the Hunter Association. Killua tries to seal Alluka’s powers away to ensure that she can live a normal life, but changes his mind after Alluka tells him that he should accept both her personalities.

IMDb (The Internet Movie Database)
Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014)
Chairman × and × Release
TV-14 | 24min | Animation, Action, Adventure | Episode aired 9 September 2014
Season 1 | Episode 146
Director: Hiroshi Kôjina
Writer: Yoshihiro Togashi (creator)

Twitter
cheesecake ü
@xchezka
You promise to do things differently next time. And you keep that promise, no matter what.
7:14 PM · Sep 9, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
ɢᴏɴ ғʀᴇᴇᴄss
@Optimistic_Gon
“When apologising to a friend, there’s a rule. You promise to do things differently next time. And you keep that promise, no matter what.”
10:37 AM · Sep 10, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
கெளடில்யா
@gowdilya
“When apologizing to a friend, there’s a rule. You promise to do things differently next time. And you keep that promise, no matter what.”
4:49 PM · Sep 10, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
elle19∞
@imSGfan19
“An apology is a promise to do things differently next time, and to keep the promise.” - Ging Freecs
#worthlessapology #brokenpromises
8:22 AM · Oct 2, 2016·Twitter for Android

YouTube
#AnimeBestLine #AnimeQuotes
Hunter X Hunter Quotes
May 27, 2019
AnimezingLab TV
When Apologizing to a friend , there’s a rule .
You promise to do things differently next time
And you keep that promise, no matter what.
- ging freecss | Hunter X Hunter Anime

Misaka’s World
Top Inspirational Quotes From Hunter X Hunter
posted by Misaka on August 30, 2019
(...)
4. “An apology is a promise to do things differently next time, and to keep the promise.” – Ging Freecs
Feels like the majority of people fail to realize the real meaning of the apology. It’s not the word which is important, it’s the hidden sense behind it and feeling which is truly important.

CBR
Hunter x Hunter: 10 Best Quotes From The Anime
by Myan Mercado – on Oct 29, 2019 in Lists
(...)
4 HOW APOLOGIES WORK
“An apology is a promise to do things differently next time, and to keep the promise.” - Ging Freecss
Though Ging Freecss is universally despised for being such a terrible father, he coincidentally bestows some of the best pearls of wisdom in the Hunter x Hunter anime. Perhaps he was written this way to make up for his glaring absence in his son’s life. Either way, this statement about apologies is brilliantly worded. An apology should extend far beyond the word “sorry” and develop into a promise that won’t be broken. That said, Ging has some serious apologizing to do.