100+ Best Letting Go Quotes To Help You Move On In Your Life

Reviewed by Cristina Dovan, Certified Life Coach Cristina Dovan Cristina DovanCertified Life Coach facebook_icontwitter_iconlinkedin_iconinsta_icon
Written by , MA (English Literature), Certified Relationship Coach Shivani Chandel MA (English Literature), Certified Relationship Coach Experience: 4 years
Edited by Subhrojyoti Mukherjee
Fact-checked by Sneha Tete
Last Updated on

It is never easy to handle the flood of emotions that follow a broken relationship. At this point, a few thoughtful letting-go quotes may put things in perspective for you and motivate you to come out of despair. After all, clinging on to the pain for long is not a great idea, which may even take a toll on your mental health. This article compiles the best quotes to soothe your pain when you let go of someone in a relationship. Keep reading!

Letting Go Quotes About Someone You Love

1. “Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” — Lao Tzu

2. “Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” ― Deborah Reber

3. “You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them.” ― C. JoyBell C.

4. “Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.” ― Roy T. Bennett

5. “Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.” ― Steve Maraboli

6. “There ain’t no way you can hold onto something that wants to go, you understand? You can only love what you got while you got it.” ― Kate DiCamillo

7. “Sometimes it takes a heartbreak to shake us awake & help us see we are worth so much more than we’re settling for.” ― Mandy Hale

8. “I demolish my bridges behind me…then there is no choice but to move forward.” ― Fridtjof Nansen

9. “The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” ― Steve Maraboli

10. “Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t “should’ve” done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!” ― Steve Maraboli

11. “Letting go isn’t a one―time thing, it’s something you have to do every day, over and over again.” ― Dawson’s Creek

12. “If you didn’t love him, this never would have happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go.” ― Sarah Dessen

13. “Today, expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurred yesterday. Realizing the past no longer holds you captive. It can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past go. A simply abundant world awaits.” ― Sarah Dessen

14. “We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ― Joseph Campbell

15. “One of the best times for figuring out who you are & what you really want out of life? Right after a break―up.” ― Mandy Hale

16. “You must be strong enough to know that love will come to you when you are ready. You must be strong enough to know when to say goodbye, and know that letting go is not weak.” ― Marisa Donnelly

17. “The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” ― Steve Maraboli

18. “If letting go, if letting people and things work themselves out in the way that they needed to without your help was the most important thing, then it was also the hardest.” ― Deb Caletti

19. “If you love something so much, let it go. If it comes back it was meant to be; if it doesn’t it never was.” ― Albert Schweitzer

20. “Don’t let the heart that didn’t love you, keep you from the one that will.” ― Unknown

21. “Every time your heart is broken a doorway cracks open to a world full of new beginnings, new opportunities.” ― Patti Roberts

22. “The only reason you won’t let go of what is making you sad is because it was the only thing that made you happy.” ― Lily Amis

23. “The greatest act of loving another person is letting go and wishing for their happiness, regardless of satisfying you.” ― Ritu Ghatourey

24. “One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can’t change.” ― Unknown

25. “The truth was, he now belonged only to my past, and it was time I began to accept it, as much as it hurt to do so.” ― Tammara Webber

26. “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” ― Paulo Coelho

27. “Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.” ― Gerald G. Jampolsky

28. “Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” ― Ann Landers

29. “I know my heart will never be the same but I’m telling myself I’ll be okay.” ― Sara Evans

30. “If you want to be respected by people you love, you must prove to them that you can survive without them.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson

protip_icon Quick Tip
Physically distance yourself from the person causing you pain. This would give you a break from having to think about them constantly and give you time to process your feelings and the situation.

You may hate to admit that the dynamics of friendship are fluid. Your friends may forget you, lose contact, or just hang out without you, giving you a serious case of FOMO. So, instead of getting anxious about how to fit in, accept that friendships are ever―changing and release friends who don’t add value to your life. Read our next section for some quotes about lovingly letting go of friends and releasing old attachments.

Letting Go Of Friends Quotes

Quotes for letting go of friends
Image: IStock

1. “Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.” — Steve Maraboli

2. “Friendship is delicate as a glass once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks.” ― Waqar Ahmed

3. “The moment your friends cease to share their complications with you, know that is the moment you lost your prime place in their hearts.” ― Unknown

4. “Try to let people go because every person in your journey is meant to be there but not all of them are meant to stay in it until the end.” ― Unknown

5. “Sometimes you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be you just have to let go.” ― Unknown

6. “Some friendships will expire their time instead of pretending to be cool, learn to let go and move on.” ― Unknown

7. “Friendship that can end never really began.” ― Pablilins Syrns

8. “Life is a balance of holding on a small letting go.” ― Unknown

9. “Whatever way our stories end, I know you’ll have rewritten mine by being my friend.” ― Unknown

10. “It’s sad when you’ve already learnt to be a part of someone’s life and then you end up being strangers.” ― Unknown

11. “Sometimes you have to give up on people, not because you don’t care, but because they don’t.” ― Unknown

12. “In life we never lose friends, we only learn who the true ones are.” ― Unknown

13. “Fighting for a relationship is worth it but you should avoid it when you are the only one fighting.” ― Unknown

14. “Whether it was a friendship or a relationship, the truth is when it ends it gives you a heartbreak.” ― Unknown

15. “Friendship means understanding, not agreement. It means forgiveness, not forgetting. It means the memories last, even if contact is lost.” ― Unknown

16. “Starting today, I need to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains and look forward to what’s coming next.” ― Unknown

17. “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens.” ― Unknown

18. “Don’t look back. You’re not going that way.” ― Unknown

19. “Whatever comes, let it come. Whatever stays, let it stay. Whatever goes, let it go.” ― Unknown

20. “Somebody asked me if I knew you. A million memories flashed through my mind, but I just smiled and said I used to.” ― Unknown

21. “Sometimes we need to forget some people from our past because of one simple reason, they just don’t belong to our future.” ― Unknown

22. “Understand that people change and sometimes they are no longer compatible with our lives. We just have to learn to accept it and move on.” ― Unknown

23. “Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.” ― Oscar Wild

24. “Sometimes it’s better to just move on instead of being the only one who is willing to fix things.” ― Unknown

It is important to have a relationship fade away without resentment or hatred. Accept the truth, mourn the loss, but never hold onto anyone who has grown apart. Here are a few quotes about letting go of a relationship and moving on from the past.

Letting Go Of A Relationship Quotes

Quotes for letting go of a relationship
Image: IStock

1. “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell

2. “People can be more forgiving than you can imagine. But you have to forgive yourself. Let go of what’s bitter and move on.” ― Bill Cosby

3. “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” ― Lyndon B. Johnson

4. “I demolish my bridges behind me.. then there is no choice but to move forward.” ― Fridtjof Nansen

5. “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” ― Steve Maraboli

6. “Thank God I found the GOOD in goodbye.” ― Beyonce Knowles

7. “Every day is a new day, and you’ll never be able to find happiness if you don’t move on.” ― Carrie Underwood

8. “People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

9. “Every woman that finally figured out her worth, has picked up her suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which landed in the valley of change.” ― Shannon L. Alder

10. “When someone you love says goodbye you can stare long and hard at the door they closed and forget to see all the doors God has open in front of you.” ― Shannon L. Alder

11. “Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past.” ― Gerald Jampolsky

12. “Your time is way too valuable to be wasting on people that can’t accept who you are.” ― Turcois Ominek

13. “Change can be good but its always tough to let go of the past.” ― Emily Giffin

14. “Last night I lost the world, and gained the universe.” ― Joybell

15. “Some think that holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it’s letting go.” ― Herman Hesse

16. “Making a big life change can be scary but living with regret is always scarier.” ― Unknown

17. “You can only lose what you cling to.” ― Buddha

18. “Let go of your attachment to being right, and suddenly your mind is more open.” ― Ralph Marston

19. “Life moves on and so should we.” ― Spencer Johnson

20. “We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better.” ― C. JoyBell C.

21. “Being different is a revolving door in your life where secure people enter and insecure exit.” ― Shannon L. Alder

22. “Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t “should’ve” done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!” ― Steve Maraboli

23. “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” ― Carl Jung

24. “There are times in life when people must know when not to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this.” ― Terry Pratchett

25. “Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” ― Ann Landers

26. “I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It’s okay if you have to leave us. It’s okay if you want to stop fighting.” ― Gayle Forman

27. “Time flies, people change. You’re not always needed. There are times to move forward and places to let go.” ― Unknown

28. “Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.” ― Daphne Rose Kingma

29. “If people refuse to look at you in a new light and they can only see you for what you were, only see you for the mistakes you’ve made, if they don’t realize that you are not your mistakes, then they have to go.” ― Steve Maraboli

30. “The truth was, he now belonged only to my past, and it was time I began to accept it, as much as it hurt to do so.” ― Tammara Webber

31. “When you leave, weary of me, without a word I shall gently let you go.” ― Kim Sowol

32. “Today, expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurred yesterday. Realizing the past no longer holds you captive. It can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past go. A simply abundant world awaits.” ― Sarah Ban Breathnach

33. “Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” ― Dave Mustaine

34. “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ― Lao Tzu

35. “Your time is way too valuable to be wasting on people that can’t accept who you are.” ― Turcois Ominek

36. “Letting go doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you stop trying to force others to.” ― Mandy Hale

37. “Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward.” ― Erika Taylor

38. “You’ve gotta know when it’s time to turn the page.” ― Tori Amos

39. “You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is understanding.” ― Guy Finley

40. “All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” ― Havelock Ellis

41. “It is important that we forgive ourselves for making mistakes. We need to learn from our errors and move on.” ― Steve Maraboli

Dealing with toxic family members can drain you emotionally in the long run. It can also generate stress and negative emotions such as anger, misery, and resentment. Therefore, you need to let go of such toxicity. Check out the quotes listed below to let go of toxic people, even if they are family.

Letting Go Of Family Quotes

Quotes for letting go of your family
Image: IStock

1. “It always amazes me how swiftly problems can be solved, once you start cutting things off people.” ― Joe Abercrombie

2. “It’s tough to let go and move on from bad relationships, but so is every other good thing in life.” ― Unknown

3. “Toxic family relationships spoil all other relationships unless you remove the poison before it’s too late.” ― Unknown

4. “Sometimes, it’s very hard to move on, but once you move on, you’ll realise it was the best decision you have ever made.” ― Unknown

5. “What’s done is done, what’s gone is gone, one of life’s lessons is always moving on. it’s OK to look back and think of fond memories but keep moving forward.” ― Roy T. Bennett

6. “If the family you choose before your birth no longer supports your path towards fulfilling your true destiny, it is never too late to find a new tribe.” ― Anthon St. Maarten

7. “You don’t have to leave your whole family in the past, just those who don’t deserve a place in your future.” ― Unknown

8. “The path to freedom is illuminated by the bridges you have burned, adorned by the ties you have cut, and cleared by the drama you have left behind. Let go. Be free.” ― Steve Maraboli

9. “In the process of letting go, you will lose many things from the past but you will find yourself.” ― Deepak Chopra

10. “Cutting people off doesn’t have limits. Family can get cut off too if they are causing you stress. Eliminate any negativity in your circle.” ― Unknown

11. “Love them from a distance. Pray for them, wish them well, but don’t allow them to abuse you.” ― Kimber Waul

12. “Ending the toxic cycle within your own life isn’t easy. When you don’t come from a healthy family, you do your best to ensure a healthy one comes from you.” ― Steve Maraboli

13. “When you walk away from a toxic family, you begin the journey of finding your true people.” ― Unknown

14. “It’s okay to cut ties with toxic friends and family you’ve got to prioritize your own well―being.” ― Brenden Dilley

15. “You can miss a person every day and still be glad that they are no longer in your life.” ― Tara Westover

16. “Sometimes you need to give up on people, not because you don’t care, but because they don’t.” ― Jennifer Green

17. “You may feel guilty for leaving your family behind, but you’ll never regret moving yourself forward.” ― Unknown

18. “When you say “No” to a toxic family, you say “Yes” to loving yourself.” ― Unknown

protip_icon Pro Tip
Set clear boundaries and be direct about your intentions of cutting off the communication and relationship with the family person.

The next sections cover letting go quotes for your partner who has distanced themselves from you. While it is difficult to forget the attachment and feelings of love, getting trapped in a flawed relationship isn’t healthy either. So, prioritize self―care and decide whether the relationship is worth it or not.

Letting Go Quotes For Him

Quotes for letting go of him
Image: IStock

1. “Walk away from a bad relationship before it makes you walk away from yourself.” ― Unknown

2. “Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” ― Dave Mustaine

3. “It is time to move on when your love for someone has left you worse than the person you were when you found them.” ― Unknown

4. “The most difficult aspect of moving on is accepting that the other person already did.” ― Faraaz Kazi

5. “It is tough to let go of someone you can’t live without. But living with someone who can live without you, is much worse.” ― Anon

Letting Go Quotes For Her

Quotes for letting go of her
Image: IStock

1. “You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is understanding.” ― Guy Finley

2. “One of the hardest lessons in life is letting go. Whether it’s guilt, anger, love, loss, or betrayal. Change is never easy. We fight to hold on and we fight to let go.” ― Unknown

3. “Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” ― Guy Finley

4. “Anything you can’t control is teaching you how to let go.” ― Jackson Kiddard

5. “At some point, you gotta let go, and sit still, and allow contentment to come to you.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert

6. “We need to learn to let go as easily as we grasp and we will find our hands full and our minds empty.”― Leo F. Buscaglia

If your relationship with family, friends, and partner is not serving you well, letting it go is the best way to head forward. Though it is not easy to let go of your attachments, it is necessary for a happy and peaceful mental state. So, relieve your baggage from the past, open the doors of hope, and move on to a brighter future. Fight your despair and sadness and forget about the wrongs of yesterday.

Letting go of someone you once held dear to your heart, mind, and body can be very difficult, emotional, draining, and above all, time-consuming. The letting go quotes mentioned above show that while letting go is hard, it is important to know when to call it quits instead of burying yourself (and maybe your partner) under stress, unhappiness, and other negative feelings. Reading these quotes lets you know that you are not alone in this, and many other people have felt the same way you do. These quotes also tell you what you can do to move on and validate your feelings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is letting go important?

Letting go helps you to be free and create space for yourself and new things to happen in life. It will help you see things in a new way, release negative emotions, and move on in life.

How do you heal a broken heart?

To heal a broken heart, learn to take care of yourself, accept the grief, appreciate the good memories, and invest in yourself. A broken heart takes time to heal. So, you mustn’t judge yourself and deny your emotions. Finding a new hobby and spending time with your close friends and family will also help.

Does heartbreak last forever?

No, heartbreaks generally do not last forever. It may take time to heal and might hurt a lot, but it will eventually heal. However, it will only last forever if you allow it to.

Moving forward paves the way for self-discovery and happiness. This video has inspiring quotes that will motivate you to let go and transform your life. Watch this now!

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Cristina Dovan
Cristina DovanCertified Life Coach
Cristina is a certified life coach who blends her passion for human behavior with her experience in digital entrepreneurship. She embarked on her personal development journey over five years ago and is now devoted to using her insights to help others transform their lives.

Read full bio of Cristina Dovan
Shivani Chandel
Shivani ChandelBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Shivani Chandel is a postgraduate in English literature from Panjab University, Chandigarh and a certified relationship coach. She has four years of experience in copy editing and writing about entertainment, health, lifestyle, and beauty.

Read full bio of Shivani Chandel
Subhrojyoti is an associate editor at StyleCraze with four years of experience. He has a master’s degree in English from Presidency University, Kolkata, and has also done a post-graduate certificate course in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

Read full bio of Subhrojyoti Mukherjee
Sneha has a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, a professional Relationship Coach diploma, and over four years of experience in writing. She writes about relationships and lifestyle.Sneha began her career as an instructional designer, shifted to freelance technical and research writing, and self-published a novella on the theme of adolescent mental health.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete
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