77 Letting Go Quotes About Finding Strength In Surrender (2025)
Letting go is easier said than done; it is a complicated and sometimes painful process necessary for our growth and peace. To explore this subject further, we've compiled the below letting go quotes to learn more from different perspectives. They will offer you solace, guidance, and understanding of the mixed emotions we often find difficult to express.
From authors to philosophers, there is a plethora of inspiring words holding powerful messages.
Table of contents:
Letting Go Quotes To Find Inner Peace
Letting go simply means liberating yourself from unnecessary burdens—perhaps difficult times, a harmful relationship, or even an unachievable goal. By releasing these, we free ourselves and open doors to newfound peace, paving the way for better well-being.
Here is our first selection of some of our favorite letting go quotes, which you can tell yourself daily to guide your journey to inner peace. You can also check out our collection of morning affirmations and journal prompts to start your day right.
"Enjoy what you can and ignore the rest. Let's not waste any energy fighting things that are outside our control."
- Paulo Coelho
"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."
- Oprah Winfrey
"Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness."
- Steve Maraboli
"Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life."
- Epictetus
"Today expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurred yesterday. Realize 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
Letting go is the willingness to change your beliefs in order to bring more peace and joy into your life instead of holding onto beliefs that bring pain and suffering.
~ Hal Tipper
Quotes About Letting Go And Moving On
Letting go often involves an internal struggle — a war between what we want to hold onto and what we should release. It's not a matter of ignoring memories or feigned forgetfulness but a conscious decision to move past what once was and embrace the possibilities of what could be.
Our next selection features quotes about moving on after letting go of what was.
"There's a trick to the Graceful Exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, a relationship is over – and to let go. It means leaving what's over without denying its value."
- Ellen Goodman
"I've been burdened with blame trapped in the past for too long, I'm moving on."
- Rascal Flatts
"The answer to every adversity lies in courageously moving forward with faith."
- Edmond Mbiaka
"There comes a time in your life when you have to choose to turn the page, write another book or simply close it."
- Shannon L. Alder
The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it.
~ Carl Jung
Holding On Before You Let Go
The battle between holding on and letting go reveals a genuine struggle between the known and the unknown. It can be in the form of a job you've outgrown but can't seem to part ways with or a relationship that brings more pain than joy.
In such situations, the instinctive action is to hold on tighter, to seek solace in the familiar. But we must do a lot of introspection and prepare ourselves for the possible discomfort of letting go.
Read our next batch of quotes about hanging on to aid your decision-making. We also have a dedicated collection of hang-in-there quotes for more on the theme.
"The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go."
- Shannon L. Alder
"Holding on is believing that there's only a past; letting go is knowing that there's a future."
- Daphne Rose Kingma
"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."
- Henry Havelock Ellis
"There are times in life when people must know when not to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this."
- Terry Pratchett
"Just because something made you happy in the past doesn't mean you have to keep it forever."
- Melva Green
Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than hanging on.
~ Eckhart Tolle
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
Comforting Quotes About Letting Go In Relationships
If a relationship contributes more to your stress than positivity and growth, it's okay to distance yourself from them. After all, healthy boundaries make way for a healthier you. However, the right answer is always personal. Read through this section to hear what others say about letting go when you're in a relationship.
"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
"You will evolve past certain people. Let yourself."
- Mandy Hale
"If you truly want to be respected by people you love, you must prove to them that you can survive without them."
- Shannon L. Alder
"When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free."
- Catherine Ponder
"No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories."
- Haruki Murakami
"The most difficult aspect of moving on is accepting that the other person already did."
- Faraaz Kazi
The world belongs to those who let go.
~ Tao Te Ching
The sound of geese flying overhead is the sound of life moving on.
~ Marty Rubin
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
Letting Go Of Control
Most things are out of our control, from the sudden rain ruining your outdoor picnic to unexpected traffic creating havoc in your schedule.
The art of letting go teaches us that there's peace in releasing our grip from these uncontrollable aspects of life. Letting life happen, not predicting it or attempting to manipulate it, makes way for being more present in the moment. Here, we feature quotes about letting go of control.
"Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."
- Lao Tzu
"Let go of certainty. The opposite isn't uncertainty. It's openness, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow."
- Tony Schwartz
"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
"Let go of the battle. Breathe quietly and let it be. Let your body relax and your heart soften. Open to whatever you experience without fighting."
- Jack Kornfield
Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.
~ Steve Maraboli
Quotes About The Consequences Of Not Letting Go
Human as we are, letting go isn't always the easiest decision to make. Sometimes, it can feel like you're giving up or admitting defeat. Yet, holding on to regret, pain, and worries often instigates a cycle of harmful emotions that can bring us down and potentially exacerbate or trigger mental health conditions.
Review the quotes in this section that discuss some of the consequences of not letting go. For more, we recommend watching Eleanor Longdon’s Ted Talk and other presenters in our collection of mental health talks.
"If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind."
- Shannon L. Alder
"The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life."
- Mary Manin Morrissey
"Rehashing the past wouldn't change anything. Time to move forward."
- Zena Wynn
"When we go back into the past and rake up all the troubles we've had, we end up reeling and staggering through life. Stability and peace of mind come by living in the moment."
- Pam W. Vredevelt
Related read: Peace of mind quotes.
"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
Your heart's strength is measured by how hard it holds on. Your self-worth and faith are measured by finally letting go. However, your peace is measured by how long you don't look back.
~ Shannon L. Alder
Trees still grow after letting dead things go.
~ Darnell Lamont Walker
Quotes Looking Forward To A Better Future
Studies have shown that looking forward to a positive event affects our present emotions1. Effective both during and after stress, simply imagining a future we want can enhance our coping and recovery skills.
While enthusiastically looking forward, accept that the future will still have unexpected hurdles. In this section, you'll find wise words and sayings about how letting go can help us move toward a better future.
"Once you realize you deserve a bright future, letting go of your dark past is the best choice you will ever make."
- Roy T. Bennett
"If you want to fly in the sky, you need to leave the earth. If you want to move forward, you need to let go the past that drags you down."
- Amit Ray
"There's a weird freedom in letting go of what you lost and looking forward to the possibilities the empty space leaves behind."
- James Lanman
"The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back. Simply forget the past and forge toward the future."
- Alyson Noel
"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energy moving forward together towards an answer."
- Denis Waitley
One of the most courageous decisions you'll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul.
~ Brigitte Nicole
Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.
~ Steve Maraboli
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.
~ Lyndon B. Johnson
Eye-Opening Letting Go Quotes About Self-Discovery
Letting go of disappointments of the past, unmet expectations, or toxic relationships is difficult but a transformative part of life. As you say goodbye to these hindrances, you gradually uncover layers of yourself under the weight of negative experiences.
Looking back, we can discover qualities such as compassion and courage that we may not have recognized. Check how far you have come through the letting go quotes below.
"Letting go helps us to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations that do not belong to us. This frees us from unnecessary stress."
- Melody Beattie
"One's doing well if age improves even slightly one's capacity to hold on to that vital truism: ‘This too shall pass'."
- Alain de Botton
"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
That's all you can do in this world, no matter how strong the current beats against you, or how heavy your burden, or how tragic your love story. You keep going.
~ Robyn Schneider
When things start to fall apart in your life, you feel as if your whole world is crumbling. But actually it's your fixed identity that's crumbling. And that's cause for celebration.
~ Pema Chödrön
More Motivational Quotes To Inspire Change And Letting Go
"Let go of becoming but never let go of taking action. Stop expecting and start living."
- Maxime Lagacé
"Take all the time you need to heal emotionally. Moving on doesn't take a day, it takes lots of little steps to be able to break free of your broken self."
- Tere Arigo
"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it."
- Eckhart Tolle
"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.
Famous Quotes From Influential Figures About Letting Go
Thich Nhat Hanh, a notable peace activist, blesses us with profound wisdom in his quote below. He highlighted our apprehension about letting go, owing to our fear of the unknown and somewhat paradoxical comfort in familiar suffering. His message is a powerful reminder that encourages us to face our fears.
Decipher the meanings of other famous quotes from more influential figures below.
"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
"Your past does not equal your future."
- Anthony Robbins
"It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
- Theodore Roosevelt
"The more you let yourself go, the less others let you go."
- Friedrich Nietzsche
"You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It won't happen automatically."
- Joel Osteen
"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
Noteworthy From Authors And Poets
Authors and poets, in their timeless narratives, shed light on the transformative power of letting go, for instance, Nicholas Sparks' "True Believer." As shown in the quote below, his story about Jeremy and Lexie briefly touches on how people we've known forever may not see life as we do.
Our next selection features letting go quotes from the arts and literature.
"I realise there's something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they're experts at letting things go."
- Jeffrey McDaniel
"I think it happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you've known forever don't see things the way you do. And so you keep the wonderful memories, but find yourself moving on."
- Nicholas Sparks
"Life moves forward. The old leaves wither, die and fall away, and the new growth extends forward into the light."
- Bryant McGill
"This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet."
- Rumi
Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.
~ Stephen King
Short Letting Go Captions and Quotes To Post Online
May the remaining letting go quotes be your companion; once you’ve moved on, remember to share your story with others online.
"Life moves on and so should we."
- Spencer Johnson
"Time doesn't heal emotional pain, you need to learn how to let go."
- Roy T. Bennett
"Forget what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you."
- Shannon L. Alder
"Sometimes you can't let go of the past without facing it again."
- Gail Tsukiyama
"You can't expect to move forward if your emergency break is on."
- Angela Cecilia
"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
"I demolish my bridges behind me…then there is no choice but to move forward."
- Fridtjof Nansen
"Keeping baggage from the past will leave no room for happiness in the future."
- Wayne L Misner
"Give up your attachment to having things your way."
- Iyanla Vanzant
Let things unfold. Relinquish control.
~ Unknown
| 1 | Monfort, S. S., Stroup, H. E., & Waugh, C. E. (2015). The impact of anticipating positive events on responses to stress. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 58, 11–22. |
Isabela is a determined millennial passionate about continuously seeking out ways to make an impact. With a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with honors, Isabela’s research expertise and interest in artistic works, coupled with a creative mindset, offers readers a fresh take on different environmental, social, and personal development topics.
