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45 Toxic Relationship Quotes To Let Go And Move On

A list of toxic relationship quotes for when you need an extra push towards a happier you

If you have been with a toxic partner, you understand the pain of struggling to leave every day.

A normal relationship has its ups and downs. A toxic relationship, however, put you in a black hole of self-doubts and guilt.

But leaving a toxic relationship is never easy, especially when you are still in love. Your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.

So here is a list of toxic relationship quotes that will make it easier for you. They will remind you that you are not in this alone.

Read also: 15 Warning Signs Of A Toxic Relationship

Noteworthy Quotes About Toxic Relationships

Table of content

  • Quotes About Toxic Relationship Signs
  • Toxic people quotes that prove you deserve better
  • Quotes moving on and healing from a toxic relationship
  • 5 tips on how to leave a toxic relationship for good

What is a toxic relationship?
Quotes about the signs and red flags

If you are wondering if you are in a toxic relationship, you probably are. A loving and caring partner would not make you question the healthy status of your relationship. But the tricky part is, toxic partners are not always toxic. They can be sweet occasionally, making you wonder if it’s all in your head. So if you are wondering what are the signs of a toxic relationship, or should you leave your current one, these relationship quotes might give you an insight.

You feel like you have nothing left to give

A healthy relationship will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dream, or your dignity.

Narcissists will always want more even when you have given all that you have. When you have nothing more to sacrifice, you mean nothing but an empty soul to them.

When you gut tells you so

The moment that you start to wonder if you deserve better, you do.

The moment that you start to wonder if you deserve better, you do.

When you need time to digest the truth

Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.

Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.

Stop giving narcissist “second chances” because “next time” equals more heartbreaks, more frustrations and more time spent in a living hell.

When you feel consumed

A healthy relationship doesn’t drag you down. It inspires you to be better.

Love should be energizing. It should encourage us to be a better version of ourselves. But toxic partners, on the contrary, make us feel weak, exhausted and powerless. We should be learning, working and growing. But instead, we are too tired to do so because the relationship has drained us.

There are people who bring you down by just being them. They need not do anything. - Malebo Sephodi

There are people who bring you down by just being them. They need not do anything.
– Malebo Sephodi

If they are not making you glow, glow alone.

We should fight for our relationships, but if fighting means ripping yourself to shreds and piggybacking all his demons, you need to leave.  - Tara Love

We should fight for our relationships, but if fighting means ripping yourself to shreds and piggybacking all his demons, you need to leave.
– Tara Love

When you constantly question if you have done anything wrong

Love should not make you feel like walking on eggshells.  - Emma Xu

Love should not make you feel like walking on eggshells.
– Emma Xu

When they treat you like you are worthless

Remove yourself from people who treat you like your time doesn't matter, like your feelings are worthless, or like your soul is replaceable. - s.mcnutt

Remove yourself from people who treat you like your time doesn’t matter, like your feelings are worthless, or like your soul is replaceable.
s.mcnutt

They’ll stab you in the lungs and then ask why you’re having trouble breathing. - her-minds-a-messQuotes about toxic relationship signs

They’ll stab you in the lungs and then ask why you’re having trouble breathing.
her-minds-a-mess

Toxic people quotes that prove you deserve better

People stay in toxic relationships for various reasons. It might be that love is still alive. It may be out of compassion. Or sometimes, we hold onto the hope that they will change. There is no winning here. The question is, how much you are willing to lose for the change you are hoping for. For many, that day may never come. If you are thinking about staying in a toxic relationship, these quotes will give you enough reasons to leave.

You are not a rehab. It's not your job to fix everyone.

You are not a rehab. It’s not your job to fix everyone.

Some people don’t want to be fixed because being broken gets them attention.

Some people don’t want to be fixed because being broken gets them attention.

Stop setting yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.

Stop setting yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.

You are the sun. But you can only warm a body when it steps into the light.

You are the sun. But you can only warm a body when it steps into the light.
– Alisha @whereshegrows

Just because someone desires you, does not mean that he values you. 

Just because someone desires you, does not mean that he values you.

Not everyone expresses love the right way. If it means manipulation, stress and mental control, there’s no justification no matter how much they love you. People are different, and it’s not your responsibility to change them.

You can't change someone who doesn't want to be changed.

You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to be changed.

Don’t let your loyalty become slavery.

Mental abuse is much more painful than physical abuse because you are consumed by your own thoughts.

some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.

At some point you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.
– Educated, Tara Westover

It is better to break your own heart once than having someone breaking it every day.

Don’t lose yourself holding on to someone that doesn’t care about you.

Why do you think of him when you know he’s not thinking of you?

Sometimes you need to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.

Sometimes you need to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.

It’s better to be single with high standards than in a relationship settling for less.

Read also: 24 Happy Single Quotes To Enjoy Your Time Alone

You create more space in your life when you turn your excess baggage to garbage.

You create more space in your life when you turn your excess baggage to garbage.
– Chinonye J. Chidolue

A sad love poem about toxic relationship and heartbreaks by Erin Hanson

Do not hold your breath for anyone.
Do not wish your lungs to be still.
It may delay the cracks from spreading.
But eventually they will.
Sometimes to keep yourself together,
You must allow yourself to leave.
Even if breaking your own heart,
Is what it takes to let you breathe.
– Erin Hanson

Never go into a relationship with the hope to change a person. - toxic relationship quote by Julie Johnson

You think you can change a guy, that he’ll be different with you, that you’ll finally be the one to tame him… and before you know it, you’re alone in your underwear at nine o’clock on a Saturday night, crying to Adele songs, eating ice cream straight from the gallon, and wondering what the hell is the matter with you that you fell for such a goddamned man-child after he explicitly warned you not to.
– Julie Johnson

You can't change someone who doesn't see an issue in his actions.

You can’t change someone who doesn’t see an issue in his actions.

Never let someone who contributes to so little controls so much.

Words can lie. Actions don't.

Words can lie. Actions don’t.

You take your power back by letting people go.
– Emma Xu

The person who doesn’t value you is blocking you from the one who will.
– Robert Tew

Until a man gets himself heal, he will be toxic to every woman who tries to.

Until a man gets himself heal, he will be toxic to every woman who tries to.

Quotes to move on and heal from a toxic relationship

Never rush yourself to get out of sorrow and pain. If you want to cry, cry. Talk to a friend, talk to someone you trust. Be vulnerable and be honest about your emotions.

Take some time off or look for help if needed. It is going to take some time to heal. But you will heal eventually.  

If love can fade, so can pain.

If love can fade, so can pain.

You survived the worst part. You’re going to survive the recovery.

Read also: 39 Healing Quotes To Leave and Recover From Toxic Relationships

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

May you reach that level within, where you no longer allow your past or people with toxic intentions to negatively affect or condition you.
Lalah Delia

Until you let go of all the toxic people in your life you will never be able to grow to your fullest potential. Let them go so you can grow.

Stay strong. Never ever ever EVER turn back to a toxic relationship. 

You have come so far and doing good. So don’t give anyone a second chance to hurt you again. It’s only going to get better now. So hang on.  

You deserve better.

You deserve better.

Sometimes bad things fall apart so good things can fall together.

Sometimes bad things fall apart so good things can fall together.

Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and get yourself together.

Sometimes the best revenge is to smile and move on.

The best way to move forward is to let go of the people holding you back.

Tips on leaving a toxic relationship

Ending and moving on from any relationship is hard. If you are in a toxic relationship, chances are you might have gone through guilt trips, threats, emotional or even physical abuse.

Even if you are aware of how toxic this love is, it may still be difficult to leave. But don’t lose hope yet, here are 5 tips to try when it seems impossible to break away:

  • Take it slow

The damage isn’t caused in just one day. Give yourself plenty of time to heal and move on. Pack your things. Stop blaming yourself. Delete the photos. Change your number. Take small steps one at a time.

  • Reconnect with friends and family

Toxic people may try to isolate you from the rest of the world, making them “the only one you have”. And that’s why to leave a toxic relationship, we have to rebuild the connection with your support network.

Find people that you can be vulnerable with. Share with them your fear, your concern and ask them for advice. Sometimes a third perspective will help you to see a clearer picture.

  • Know your worth

Keep in mind that being happily single is way better than being miserable in a relationship.

Stop worrying if you will never be able to find another one as good as them. Start practicing self-love. When you love yourself enough, it will be easier to cut off people that aren’t good enough for you.

  • Stop making excuses for toxic partners
    If you truly love someone for who they are, will you threaten them to make them stay? Will you keep cheating on them? Will you deliberately try to bring them down?

If the answer is no, it’s time to stop justifying their toxic behaviors in the name of love.

  • Keep a journal

Write down your feelings. Document your relationship. Note down what they said and did. If a toxic partner tries to convince you to come back, read the journal, and remind yourself why you wanted to leave.

It takes lots of inner work and even professional help for someone toxic to change for the better. Beware of sugar-coasted promises.


Are these toxic relationship quotes helpful?

So here are all the toxic relationship quotes and tips to help leave a toxic relationship. I hope they are able to ring the bell if you haven’t made up your mind.

Don’t ever feel ashamed to ask for help. There’s nothing wrong to save yourself. And take the time you need to heal.

Neha

Monday 10th of June 2024

I was in a toxic relationship he physically abused me verbally abused me compared me with a lot of girls that how they don’t have a past and I do, I’m madly in love with him I have given my all I make food for him,I get him his favourite things, even on my worst days I love him like crazy, I teach him tho he does loves me as well but I don’t know if I’ll be able to sacrifice things for him in future at this point I’m in love young blood I can but idk if I can in future idk what this is it’s my first love it’s shredding my heart into pieces I’m afraid of getting suicidal I can’t think about anything bad about him even when he was hitting me I was still loving him now out of the blue our families got into it and had to end it due to pressure do u think it’s gods sign ?

broken lion

Friday 2nd of February 2024

i recently lost my bff to a guy she met 4 months ago and it breaks my heart she said sorry and tried to make me happy however she could but i m still hurt wt should i do...?

Benard

Friday 8th of September 2023

i mean good quotes and all, but literally all of them are directed towards men. I'm not denying that men aren't toxic, but there's an equal amount of toxic women out there. So maybe try branching out your quotes.

Sanjana

Friday 17th of February 2023

It's been 25 years, he always abused me mentally, physically and drained me financially. Today He claims everything thing like house ,bank balance everything thing his.He cuts off me from my family members .Even he abuses me that I provoked our kids against him, though the reality is he gave them traumatized childhood by beating them brutally.But still I have no guts to leave because I have lost my self confidence and in anxiety.My family is not strong enough to stand by my side.I am waiting for my kids to stand on their own.

Antonio

Tuesday 15th of November 2022

I am at disbelief on my lack of strength courage and wisdom for allowing someone to zero me down to nothing in every aspect.of my life and I just keep.like allowing the thought love and patience will allow.this.wo.en to snap.out of it but my dad reality is.im a guitar played and lit on fire by Jimi Hendrix niece I'm