Grief Quotes That Provide Comfort In Times Of Loss
When someone you know is grieving, you want to comfort them and make them feel better. But in times of grief, our words can have the exact opposite effect. Instead of providing comfort and solace, they can make a grieving friend feel even worse. If a friend or acquaintance is experiencing grief, and you're not sure what to say, here are bereavement and grief quotes and poems that can provide much-needed comfort if you are grieving or trying to figure out what to say to a friend in the grieving process.
What to Never Say In Times Of Grief
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler have made extraordinary contributions to the subject of grief. And in their extensive work, they've gathered up some of the worst things you can say to someone who is in the grieving process. Of course, when we say the wrong thing, it's not because we are callous or careless, it's simply because we don't know better.
So, while it might seem counterintuitive to first focus on the wrong things to say, it's a helpful approach to begin with. That's because when you know what not to say, you can avoid these hurtful words and find something more fitting and appropriate, including comforting grief quotes and poems.
- "I know how you feel." When we say this, we mean it in the best way, but the truth is, most of us have no idea how someone else experiences grief - even if we have experienced death and loss, too. That's because everyone's experience is unique and specific to them. The truth is, we don't know how another person feels.
- "At least he or she lived a long life, and didn't die young." While the intention is good, these words can be hurtful. Sure, it's beautiful that they lived a long life, but that doesn't mean you should grieve them less. Death is always a great loss no matter when it occurs.
- "Be strong." This might work for a boxer going back into the ring, but for someone who's grieving? This can send the wrong message. Being strong calls to mind the British call to "Keep a stiff upper lip." But what does this translate to? When you tell someone to "be strong," you're essentially telling them that having sad feelings, or any feelings, is weak. But there's nothing weak about coming face-to-face with intense and difficult emotions. In fact, it takes incommensurable strength and great courage to feel grief and allow it to take its course.
In fact, emotional responses are not only necessary but healthy and healing. They come when a person has relaxed enough to let go and to work through his (her) sorrow. They are the natural bleeding of an emotional wound, carrying the poison out of the system. Here lies the road to recovery."
Does that mean grief has to be expressed with tears? No, of course not. But it does mean we should provide a non-judgmental space for those who need to do so. There are also grief quotes to help those who are grieving find some words of comfort. In addition, being a compassionate presence for people who are grieving is probably one of the most important things we can do.
That's why Kessler says that one of the best things to say when someone is in grief is nothing. However, you can be there for them, whether that be physically or emotionally. After all, when you see someone in such pain and suffering, you want to alleviate and console them. You want to make them better and to fix the situation. However, it's important to remember that grief isn't a problem you need to fix. It's a valid response to intense loss. What's more, it's an experience that we need to honor and respect.
And that's why those three sayings we just discussed are usually so inappropriate. They try to do away with grief and dismiss it. That may be because it's uncomfortable to sit with grief. And to sit with someone who is grieving.
"Grief is neither an illness nor a pathological condition, but rather a highly personal and normal response to life-changing events, a natural process that can lead to healing and personal growth. The transition through this difficult time is a courageous journey."
Bereavement Quotes And Poems For Times Of Grief
It's important to acknowledge grief and allow it to run its natural course, which includes the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). This doesn't mean you shouldn't say anything, especially if you do feel called to offer words of consolation and comfort. But even if you want to reach out, it doesn't necessarily mean you know what words to say.
And that's perfectly alright. Sometimes, we just don't know what to say. And if that's the case, here are some inspiring grief quotes that can be very helpful in times of sadness.
On the one hand, they act as a small window into the experience of grief and offer up a small fraction of what someone may be experiencing.
On The Loss Of The individual
Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, offers this deeply poignant bereavement quote to consider:
"The deep pain that is felt at the death of every friendly soul arises from the feeling that there is in every individual something which is inexpressible, peculiar to him alone, and is, therefore, absolutely and irretrievably lost."
Schopenhauer reminds us that the death of someone can't be fixed by filling in space with something, or someone, else. For example, when parents lose a child, people say, "You can always have another one." Or, when a wife loses her husband, sure, she can remarry, but that doesn't erase the fact that someone is lost.
So, when you want to offer your condolences to someone in grief, one way to approach the situation is to honor the person who has passed on. You can also bring old photographs of them.
Of course, these words and actions can and will never bring the person back, but it does honor the fact that they were absolutely unique and irreplaceable. And while these aspects are what make a loss so profound, they can also provide comfort during times of grief. Nancy Cobb's little bereavement poem:
"Remembering is an act of resurrection,
Each repetition is a vital layer of mourning,
In memory of those we are sure to meet again."
On the Unfathomable Nature Of Grief
But far from being academic, Lewis' writings are honest reflections on loss following the death of his beloved wife, Joy Davidman. What makes them so powerful is how brutally honest Lewis is. He was a devout Christian. However, he doesn't hide behind trite religious cliches. Instead, he grapples with grief, and how even his devotion couldn't diminish grief.
"Talk to me about the truth of religion, and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion, and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."
Why would Lewis, a devout Christian, and erudite scholar, say something so extreme?
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler write in On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss, "When a loss hits us, we have not only the particular loss to mourn but also the shattered beliefs and assumptions of what life should be."
Even for Lewis, grief was overwhelming and all-encompassing, and something that all of his former beliefs couldn't explain. This serves as a tender reminder that grief doesn't discriminate and that it can be a powerful force to experience. Therefore, when someone is grieving, it might be wise not to offer what Lewis calls "consolations of religion" because it might come across as insensitive and that you don't understand.
On Why Living With Grief Is So Hard
However, the annals came up empty. It includes 150 "devastatingly beautiful poems that embrace the pain and heartbreak of mourning," including Young's poems, along with those of other writers. One of Young's bereavement poems called, "Redemption Song," depicts why the continuation of life makes grief more poignant.
"Finally fall.
At last the mist,
Heat's haze, we woke
These past weeks with
Has lifted. We find
Ourselves chill, a briskness
We hug ourselves in.
Frost is greying the ground.
Grief might be easy
If there wasn't still
Such beauty - would be far
Simpler if the silver
Maple didn't thrust
It's leaves to flame,
Trusting that spring
Will find it again.
All this might be easier if
There wasn't a song
Still lifting us above it,
If wind didn't trouble
My mind like water.
I half expect to see you
Fill the autumn air
Like breath…"
On How Grief Can Be Depressing
One of the fives stages of grief is depression, and the American poet, Emily Dickinson, captured this phenomenon in the following bereavement poem called, "After great pain, a formal feeling comes-"
"After great pain, a formal feeling comes -
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs-
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
The Feet, mechanical, go round-
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought-
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone-
This is the Hour of Lead-
Remembered, if outlives,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow-
First-Chill-then Stupor-then the letting go-"
Why is this poem helpful? For one simple reason: when another person experiences grief, it can be difficult to understand how they feel. What's more, when they move into depression, it can be hard to reach them or relate to them. However, this poem reminds us that this is not only a normal progression of grief, but also nothing to be alarmed at, or something to try and "fix."
On Being There For Someone In Grief
Poet, Kelly Roper, has the perfect words to offer someone in times of grief with her poem called, Whatever You Need.
"Whatever you need,
Whatever we can do.
We want you to know
That we're here for you.
If you just want to talk
Or need a shoulder to cry on,
We want you to know that
We're here for you to rely on.
However lonely you feel,
You definitely are not alone.
We are only as far away
As the nearest phone.
So don't hesitate to call,
No matter what you need.
We'll rush to your side
With all Heaven's speed."
When someone experiences grief as a result of great loss and death, it can be difficult to know what to say. And this is completely normal and understandable. However, these grief quotes and bereavement poems can offer some inspiration and guidance when it comes to offering comfort and solace when you’re missing someone.
If you'd like to understand grief further and how you can support your loved ones when they experience it, here are the four books we mentioned in this article:
- A Grief Observed, by C.S. Lewis
- The Art of Losing: Poems of Grief and Healing, by Kevin Young
- Grief's Courageous Journey: A Workbook, by Sandi Caplan
- On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss, by Elisabeth Kugler-Ross and David Kessler
Professional Support In Times Of Grief
We've discussed that grief isn't an illness or problem that has to be fixed. However, grief is a powerful experience that challenges the individual deeply. And sometimes, having a supportive professional therapist can help someone move through grief.
The professional therapist doesn't try to help the individual "get over" grief. Instead, they help the individual process and understand their own unique experience of grief - to see that what they are experiencing is safe and normal, even though it is incredibly difficult. Along with words of comfort through bereavement quotes and bereavement poems, a professional therapist may be helpful during times of grief. Read below for some reviews of BetterHelp counselors, from people experiencing similar issues.
Counselor Reviews
"Sarah is a kind person that listens intently, focuses on issues, and then helps find successful strategies to deal with those issues. Never once did I feel that she was judging me or talking down to me. She was easy for me to open up too, she was professional, and she took me seriously. Together we discussed issues of loss and grief from the passing of my father, which had become more than I could handle alone. She not only validated my feelings of loss, but she also helped me find ways to mitigate those feelings, break them down into their roots and causes then address those. Coping with grief and loss is hard work, but Sarah helped me find the tools I needed within myself to do that hard work and ultimately find success. I am a stronger person now. I am happy and confident. I may not know what is around the next corner, but I know that whatever it is, I can handle it."
"Rachael has been an invaluable partner while I worked through some difficult questions and choices following my husband's death. She is kind, thoughtful and listened to my questions, fears and doubts. She challenged me with thought provoking questions to help me work through my issues. I am forever grateful that she was in my life during this extremely challenging time."
Conclusion
We have discussed words to say when someone is grieving, and combined with your presence, compassionate and non-judgmental presence; you can offer great solace in times of grief. There is support for you to lean on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What to say to someone who lost a loved one quotes?
When someone is experiencing grief and you can't seem to find the right words to say, inspirational grief quotes and sayings can help you convey the right message.
Here are a few you can use:
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” -Queen Elizabeth
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
“Sometimes, only one person is missing, and the whole world seems depopulated.” -Alphonse de Lamartine
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
"It's so curious: one can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses." -Colette
“Grief is a curious thing, when it happens unexpectedly. It is a band-aid being ripped away, taking the top layer off a family. And the underbelly of a household is never pretty, ours no exception.” -Jodi Picoult
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” -Irving Berlin
"Absence is a house so vast that inside you will pass through its walls and hang pictures on the air." -Pablo Neruda
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” -J.M. Barrie
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
What do you say in bereavement time?
Bereavement, loss, and grief are all naturally occurring emotions. Inspirational grief quotes can help you learn to deal with the pain of the loss and move forward with your life. It's easy to find death quotes and grief quotes using an internet search tool like Google. Below are a few good examples of grief quotes.
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” -Queen Elizabeth
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
“Grief is a curious thing, when it happens unexpectedly. It is a band-aid being ripped away, taking the top layer off a family. And the underbelly of a household is never pretty, ours no exception.” -Jodi Picoult
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” -Irving Berlin
"Absence is a house so vast that inside you will pass through its walls and hang pictures on the air." -Pablo Neruda
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” -J.M. Barrie
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
What to say to someone who lost a loved one quotes?
For someone experiencing bereavement, loss, and grief it can be a difficult time. Quotes about overwhelming grief are designed to provide comfort and relief from the pain of loss. Below are good examples of grief quotes.
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
“Grief is a curious thing, when it happens unexpectedly. It is a band-aid being ripped away, taking the top layer off a family. And the underbelly of a household is never pretty, ours no exception.” -Jodi Picoult
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” -Irving Berlin
"Absence is a house so vast that inside you will pass through its walls and hang pictures on the air." -Pablo Neruda
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” -J.M. Barrie
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
What do you say in bereavement time?
Experts recommend that you say as little as possible when someone is dealing with bereavement, loss, and grief. The reason for this is to allow the natural flow of emotions to start the healing process for the person who has experienced the loss. Grief quotes can convey a message of support and comfort without making the situation worse.
The below grief quotes are applicable.
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” -Irving Berlin
"Absence is a house so vast that inside you will pass through its walls and hang pictures on the air." -Pablo Neruda
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” -J.M. Barrie
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
What is the best condolence message?
The best condolence message or grief quotes is one that you feel is appropriate for your relationship with the bereaved and the person they lost. Here are a few examples:
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” -Irving Berlin
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
“There is no grief like the grief that does not speak.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Ten years, she’s dead, and I still find myself some mornings reaching for the phone to call her. She could no more be gone than gravity or the moon.” -Mary Karr
“When we love deeply, we mourn deeply; extraordinary grief is an expression of extraordinary love. Grief and love mirror each other; one is not possible without the other.” -Joanne Cacciatore
“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” -Jamie Anderson
What are some words of comfort?
One of the most widely used grief quotes is " We're sorry for your loss." This quote tells the bereaved person that you are there for them and you're aware that they are feeling pain. This simple quote speaks volumes and provides comfort. The below grief quotes may help provide solace.
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
“When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine,
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
-William Shakespeare
What do you say in someone's memory?
Using these grief quotes tells the bereaved person that while their loved one may be physically absent, they will be forever remembered and cherished. Meaningful grief quote can be helpful to a friend who’s grieving, whether their mother died, they lost a friend, or they’re grieving because of a divorce.
What should I write in a memorial message?
If you're writing a eulogy or memorial message, using condolence quotes, grief quotes, and quotes about death are appropriate ways to convey your feelings and emotions regarding the person who is deceased. If you’d like inspiration, you can look at these grief quotes:
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
How do you wish someone Rest in Peace?
A common way to wish someone peaceful rest is to say "May (he/she) rest in peace." Adding the deceased person's name to the quote personalizes the message for friends and family. This message indicates that you wish them well even in passing.
What is the best condolence message?
The best condolence messages are short and precise. Using simple quotes like "my deepest sympathy" conveys your emotion and support for the bereaved. Keeping grief quotes short can help the bereaved move on to processing their feelings in the healing process.
What are some words of comfort?
Heartfelt expressions of emotions like "my heart goes out to you in your time of loss" is a direct way to express your sympathy to someone who has recently lost a loved one. Mental health experts recommend that using shorter quotes and statements is more beneficial than long drawn out expressions of emotion. The below grief quotes may be of comfort.
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
“Where you used to be,
there is a hole in the world,
which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime,
and falling in at night.” -Edna St. Vincent Millay
“There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part, so just give me a happy middle and a very happy start.” -Shel Silverstein
“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?” -Edgar Allan Poe
"Death ends a life, not a relationship." -Mitch Albom
“Grief changes shape, but it never ends.” -Keanu Reeves
What do you say in someone's memory?
Short condolence quotes like "In loving memory of (him/her) send a message to friends and family suffering from grief that they aren't alone. When people have recently lost someone whom they deeply loved, knowing they have the support of friends and family can help during the grieving process. Here are some grief quotes to memorialize someone:
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
What should I write in a memorial message?
When you're writing a memorial message the most important thing to do is to convey positive aspects of the deceased person. If you need some inspiration, the below grief quotes may help.
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
“Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -Harriet Beecher Stowe
"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." -Aeschylus
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” -Pierre Auguste Renoir
“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” -Jose N. Harris
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” -Maya Angelou
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. But it is never gone.” -Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
“The pleasure of remembering had been taken from me, because there was no longer anyone to remember with. It felt like losing your co-rememberer meant losing the memory itself, as if the things we'd done were less real and important than they had been hours before.” -John Green
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” -C.S. Lewis
"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." -William Shakespeare
How do you wish someone Rest in Peace?
When using condolence quotes or bereavement quotes like "May (he/she) rest in peace" is the best way to convey support and sympathy when writing a memorial message or speaking at a memorial. Using short, direct quotes like these send a clear message of support and love to the bereaved.
Other Commonly Asked Questions:
What are some uplifting quotes?
The following are some uplifting grief quotes:
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
What is the most powerful quote?
The following are powerful grief quotes, from writers Anne Lamott and Nicholas Sparks:
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” -Anne Lamott
"Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face - I know it's an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." -Nicholas Sparks
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