150 Toxic Relationship Quotes To Help You Heal

Toxic relationships can leave you feeling drained, diminished, and trapped. The journey to healing, growth, and self-discovery often begins with realizing the truth about your relationship dynamic.

To help your healing process, we have compiled 150 toxic relationship quotes to empower you to move on. These quotes will resonate with those who have felt the sting of a toxic relationship and inspire strength to find the peace and happiness everyone deserves. 

What is the difference between a toxic relationship and a normal relationship? 

Toxic relationships and healthy relationships vary greatly in terms of dynamics, communication, respect, and the overall well-being of the individuals involved. 

While healthy relationships enhance the lives of the individuals involved, fostering growth, happiness, and stability — toxic or poisonous relationships do the opposite. These dynamics are filled with hostility, negativity, and fear, and are not sustainable even in the short term. 

150 toxic relationship quotes to help you move on 

As hard as it is, walking away from a toxic relationship is one of the most important steps you will ever take. And it goes without saying, that you should be proud of yourself for having the strength to do so. 

With lashings of self-love and empowerment, we hope that these inspirational quotes provide you with the wake-up call you need to realize you deserve better. 

Or if you have recently walked away from an unhappy marriage, to give you the peace of mind that you made the right decision.   

1. “When you get out of it, you realize how toxic it actually was.” — Steve Maraboli 

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

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

4. “You can spend many years thinking you’re worthless. But you’re not worthless. You’re underappreciated.” — Steve Maraboli

5. “Don’t confuse “familiar” with “acceptable”. Toxic relationships can fool you like that.” ― Steve Maraboli

6. “Let go of those who keep weighing you down.” ― Steve Maraboli

7. “If they do it often, it’s not a mistake; it’s just their behavior.” — Steve Maraboli

8. “Blocking, unfollowing, muting, and unfriending also lead to “happily ever after.” — Steve Maraboli

9. “Sometimes trying to fix them, breaks YOU.” ― Steve Maraboli

10. “Letting go of toxic people is an act of self-care.” — Karen Salmansohn

11. “A bad relationship is like standing on broken glass, if you stay you will keep hurting. If you walk away, you will hurt but eventually, you will heal.” — Autumn Kohler

12. “Toxic people attach themselves like cinder blocks tied to your ankles, and then invite you for a swim in their poisoned waters.” — John Mark Green

13. “Do not hold your breath for anyone, do not wish your lungs to be still” — John Mark Green

14. “Don’t be a sacrificial lamb on the altar of his rage. Don’t play the martyr to his hate. You can never save someone by letting them destroy you. That’s not love, it’s relational suicide. Save yourself instead. Get out while there’s still time.” — John Mark Green

15. “You make me feel like a firefly. Trapped in a bell jar; starved for love.” — Ayushee Ghoshal

16. “When you notice someone else’s toxicity, it’s time to move on” — Bryant McGill

17. “Toxic relationships are dangerous to your health; they will literally kill you. Stress shortens your lifespan. Even a broken heart can kill you.” — Bryant McGill 

18. “You don’t let go of a bad relationship because you stop caring about them. You let go because you start caring about yourself.” — Charles Orlando

19. “You create more space in your life when you turn your excess baggage into garbage.”  — Chinonye J. Chidolue

20. “A bad relationship can do that, can make you doubt everything good you ever felt about yourself.” ― Dionne Warwick

21. “We teach people how to treat us.” — Dr. Phil

22. “It’s better to be healthy alone than sick with someone else.” ― Dr. Phil

23. “Love should not make you feel like walking on eggshells.” — Emma Xu

24. “You take your power back by letting people go.” ― Emma Xu

25. “You must allow yourself to leave. Even if breaking your own heart, Is what it takes to let you breathe.” — Erin Hanson

26. “Let things come and go. Stay calm, don’t let anything disturb your peace, and carry on.” — Germany Kent

27. “When dealing with toxic people, they always choose distance over disrespect.” ― Germany Kent 

28. “In order to reach your highest potential, it is imperative that you remove all negative people from your life.”― Germany Kent

29. “As you begin to walk away from negativity and toxic people, it will inspire you to embrace positivity and your life will become more rewarding and fulfilling.” — Germany Kent

30. “You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It won’t happen automatically.” — Joel Osteen

31. “Life is too short to hang around people who are causing you to compromise. Pulling you down. Your time is too valuable to waste with people who don’t have a dream. People that aren’t going anywhere. You don’t need to make some big announcements, but little by little, you should spend less time with them.” ― Joel Osteen

32. “There are people who bring you down by just being them. They need not do anything.”― Malebo Sephodi

33. “No partner in a love relationship… should feel that he has to give up an essential part of himself to make it viable.” ― May Sarton

34. “Don’t settle for a relationship that won’t let you be yourself.” ― Oprah Winfrey

35. “The person who doesn’t value you is blocking you from the one who will.”―Robert Tew

36. “Toxic relationships will make even the strongest person feel helpless and alone at times.” — Robert Tew

37. “You don’t have to stay in a toxic relationship just because there was once love there.” — Robert Tew

38. “It’s one thing if a person owns up to their behavior and makes an effort to change. But if a person disregards your feelings, ignores your boundaries, and continues to treat you in a harmful way, they need to go.” — Daniell Koepke

39. “You don’t ever have to feel guilty about removing toxic people from your life.” — Daniell Koepke

40. “They kill your positive spirit and play with your mind and emotions. The only cure is to let them go.” — Dennisse Lisseth

41. “You can love them, forgive them, want good things for them…but still move on without them.” – Mandy Hale

42. “Toxic people will pollute everything around them. Don’t hesitate. Fumigate.” ― Mandy Hale

43. “A healthy relationship doesn’t drag you down. It inspires you to be better.” ― Mandy Hale

44. “It takes a heartbreak to shake us awake & help us see we deserve so much more than we're settling for.” — Mandy Hale

45. “At some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.” ― Tara Westover

46. “The moment you realize you deserve better, everything will change.” — Unknown. 

47. “You have to speak to be heard, but sometimes you have to be silent to be appreciated.” — Unknown

48. “Sometimes, we must grow outside of the environment where we've been planted.” — Farrah Gray

49. “When you leave behind the familiar, you create the conditions necessary for you to succeed.” — Les Brown

50. “If you walked away from a toxic relationship, you won. You've reclaimed your peace and freedom.” — Unknown

51. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious.” — Anna Taylor

52. “Respect yourself enough to say 'I deserve peace,' and walk away from people or things that prevent you from attaining it.” — Jerico Silvers

53. “Never love something so much that you can't let go of it.” — Ginni Rometty

54. “Healthy love never requires you to sacrifice your dreams, your dignity, or your happiness.” — Vironika Tugaleva

55. “Toxic people spread negativity. Loving people spread love and peace.” — Debasish Mridha

56. “Healing from a toxic relationship isn't about forgetting; it's about forgiving yourself for loving the wrong person.” — Unknown

57. “The first step to loving yourself is to stop allowing people to behave with you in a way that you do not love.” — Suzy Kassem

58. “Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s an experience.” — Victoria Holt

59. “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” — Nicole Sobon

60. “The only thing more exhausting than being in a toxic relationship is pretending you're not in one.” — Unknown

61. “Some of the most poisonous people come disguised as friends and family.” — Unknown

62. “A toxic person will never change. They just change victims.” — Unknown

63. “What's broken is broken — and I'd rather remember it as it was than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.” — Margaret Mitchell

64. “Relationships are worth fighting for, but sometimes you can't be the only one fighting.” — Unknown

65. “Not everyone you lose is a loss.” — Unknown

66. “I will not allow anyone to walk in my mind with dirty feet.” — Mahatma Gandhi

67. “You survived what you thought would kill you. Now straighten your crown and move on like the queen you are.” — Unknown

68. “When someone shows you their true colors, believe them the first time.” — Maya Angelou

69. “You are allowed to terminate toxic relationships. You are allowed to walk away from people who hurt you.” — Daniell Koepke

70. “Stand up for yourself. Never let anyone convince you that you don't matter.” — Unknown

71. “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.” — Tony Robbins

72. “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

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

74. “Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” — Jonathan Lockwood Huie

75. “Let go of what has passed. Let go of what may come. Let go of what is happening now. Don’t try to figure anything out. Don’t try to make anything happen. Relax, right now, and rest.” — Tilopa

76. “Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.” — Bob Goff

77. “Sometimes God closes doors because it’s time to move forward. He knows you won’t move unless your circumstances force you.” — Unknown

78. “You can’t change someone who doesn’t see an issue in their actions.” — Unknown

79. “Growth is painful. Change is painful. But, nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong.” — N. R. Narayana Murthy

80. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” — Will Rogers

81. “You are strong when you know your weaknesses. You are beautiful when you appreciate your flaws. You are wise when you learn from your mistakes.” — Unknown

82. “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” — Christian D. Larson

83. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” — Rikki Rogers

84. “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” — Margaret Thatcher

85. “Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.” — Mary Holloway

86. “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” — Rumi

87. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

88. “You are enough just as you are.” — Meghan Markle

89. “Becoming acquainted with yourself is a price well worth paying for the love that will really address you.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

90. “Who you are is not up for debate.” — Kate Fagan

91. “The effect of toxic people is never simply contained. It’s insidious, penetrating, and destructively far-reaching.” — Unknown

92. “You can’t change a toxic person, but you can change how you deal with them.” — Unknown

93. “Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.” — Penny Reid

94. “People appear like angels until you hear them speak. You must not rush to judge people by the color of their cloaks, but by the content of their words!” — Israelmore Ayivor

95. “Sometimes it’s not the person who changes; it’s the mask that falls off.” — Unknown

96. “The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.” — Henry Ward Beecher

97. “Happiness is not by chance, but by choice.” — Jim Rohn

98. “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” — Mother Teresa

99. “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” — Jim Rohn

100. “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” — Oscar Wilde

101. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.” — Harvey Fierstein

102. “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.” — Robert Tew

103. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

104. “Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.” — Aristotle

105. “Self-respect is the cornerstone of all virtue.” — John Herschel

106. “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” — Morrie Schwartz

107. “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” — Diane von Furstenberg

108. “The heart will break, but broken live on.” — Lord Byron

109. “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” — Lucille Ball

110. “Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.” — Tori Amos

111. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

112. “You were born with everything you need to answer the call of your soul.” — Marie Forleo

113. “Your past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you.” — Ziad K. Abdelnour

114. “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein

115. “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” — Steve Jobs

116. “The only real wisdom is knowing you know nothing.” — Socrates

117. “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” — Alan Watts

118. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” — Oprah Winfrey

119. “Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.” — Terry Pratchett

120. “We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.” — Marcel Proust

121. “Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” — Wayne W. Dyer

122. “Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” — Pema Chödrön

123. “Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.” — Robert J. Sawyer

124. “You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.” — Eckhart Tolle

125. “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” — Dalai Lama

126. “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

127. “Sometimes, the only way to save your sanity is to let go of a toxic relationship. Your well-being is worth more than holding on to something harmful.” — Sharon Salzberg

128. “People inspire you, or they drain you. Pick them wisely.” — Hans F. Hansen

129. “Don’t let a toxic person change how good you are.” — Karen A. Baquiran

130. “Sometimes the person you’re most loyal to is the one who needs to go.” — Tony Gaskins

131. “Don’t allow someone who did you wrong to rob you of a better future by holding on to what happened.” — Rachel Wolchin

132. “I will not try to convince you to love me, to respect me, to commit to me. I deserve better than that; I am better than that. Goodbye!” — Steve Maraboli

133. “Releasing toxic people from our lives is only allowing room for a new flow of positivity. You don't have to toxic people for them to grow.” — Chinonye J. Chidolue

134. “If the person you’re in a relationship with is unfaithful or abusive, it’s not a sign that they don’t love you. It’s a sign that they don’t love themselves enough to treat you right.” — Cassandra Clare

135. “Sometimes we have to let go of what's killing us, even if it's killing us to let go.” — Unknown

136. “When you leave a toxic relationship, you're not leaving something behind. You're moving towards something. Towards healing, happiness, and a fulfilling life.” — Karen Salmansohn

137. “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” — J.P. Morgan

138. “Removing yourself from a toxic relationship is self-care, and that is not selfish.” — Charles Orlando

139. “Burning bridges? Nah, that takes too long. I’ve upgraded to explosives.” — Alfa

140. “Toxic relationships are like good pasta that has been overcooked.” — Asa Don Brown

141. “Sometimes, your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.” — Unknown

142. “Don’t let toxic people infect your day. Acknowledge the infection and work to heal it, but don’t let the person who caused it hold any power in your life.” — Danielle Koepke

143. “Toxic relationships are like glass, sometimes it’s better to leave them broken than hurt yourself trying to put it back together.” — Unknown

144. “When someone shows you their true colors, don’t try to paint a different picture.” — Tony A. Gaskins Jr.

145. “Some people are going to leave, but that’s not the end of your story. That’s the end of their part in your story.” — Faraaz Kazi

146. “You don’t have to feel guilty about removing toxic people from your life. It doesn’t matter whether someone is a relative, romantic interest, employer, childhood friend, or new acquaintance. You don’t have to make room for people who cause you pain or make you feel small.” — Cheryl Strayed

147. “Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.” — Robert Tew

148. “Toxic people will not be changed by the alchemy of your kindness. Yes, be kind, but move on swiftly and let life be their educator.” — Brendon Burchard

149. “What's broken is broken, and I'd rather remember it as it was than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.” — Margaret Mitchell

150. "Embrace the courage to walk away from anything that doesn't serve you, grow you, or make you happy. Your worth isn't negotiable." — Unknown.

Also, make sure not to miss our list of the best relationship quotes.