There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Sometimes, life can feel like one red traffic light after another. It's tiresome, to say the least. And just when you start to make progress, you spy a pothole in the road that forces you to hit the brakes.
It seems like there's always something holding you back, always an obstacle standing in your way. And, as you patiently will the lights to change, you can’t help but wonder why life has to be so hard.
We’ve all been there, both with rush hour traffic, and the frustrations of everyday life.
But it’s important to remember that eventually, every red light will turn green. And when it does, your journey will continue towards a better place.
Why is Life So Hard?
Not one of us will get through life unscathed. There'll always be struggles. There'll always be hardships. And we'll always wish for an easier path.
But with every tough day, there will be something, a moment or a thought, that brings happiness to our lives.
It could be a random act of kindness from a stranger, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or even a fleeting moment of pure bliss, like kicking your shoes off after a 12-hour shift.
And it’s these moments that remind us how no day is ever completely dark. No time, wholly sad. And no hope, entirely lost.
Yes, life is hard. And there’s no option for an easier level. But with every struggle, we have the opportunity to grow as individuals. We can learn more about who we are, what we want out of life, and just how resilient we really are.
Think back to your first day at school. And how hard it was, not knowing anyone. Remember the stress of your exams. And the sleepless nights before each one.
Your driving test, your own flat, your first serious relationship, and breakup. These, and many more, are life’s tough moments. But they are part of your journey. And without them, you’d have no story to tell.
So next time you’re feeling beat, try looking for rainbows rather than rain clouds. Learn to laugh at how sour life can taste, like the lemons on the side of your Iced Tea.
And make a point of spending time with people who can offer a smile, when you’re struggling to find your own.
Now, let’s check out these Life is Hard quotes. And remember, better days are always just around the corner.
45 Life is Hard Quotes and Sayings
- “Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order.” – David Gerrold
- “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
- “On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.” – Gregory S. Williams
- “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on.” – Dale Carnegie
- “I like to use the hard times in the past to motivate me today.” – Dwayne Johnson
- “No matter what job or industry you're in, life is hard, but we're all going through a difficult time and the best thing we can do is pick each other up and move on together.” – Eric Nam
No matter what job or industry you're in, life is hard, but we're all going through a difficult time and the best thing we can do is pick each other up and move on together.” – Eric Nam
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
- “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller
- “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
- “Life is hard. Life is difficult. Life is going to punch you in the gut. But when you change your attitude, you change your behavior. When your behavior changes, so do your results.” – Will Hurd
- “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller
- “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
- “A good half of the art of living is resilience.” – Alain de Botton
- “There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them. But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there.” – Paulo Coelho, ‘The Fifth Mountain’
- “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “I don't know anyone who has made it through this life with it being super easy. Life is hard.” – Jessica Long
- “Never give up. There are always tough times, regardless of what you do in anything in life. Be able to push through those times and maintain your ultimate goal.” – Nathan Chen
Never give up. There are always tough times, regardless of what you do in anything in life. Be able to push through those times and maintain your ultimate goal.” – Nathan Chen
- “All of life is a test and we all have our challenges to meet.” – Marjory Sheba
- “It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- “Life is hard, but there are moments, sometimes hours – and, if you're really lucky, full days – where everything feels just right.” – Andy Grammer
- “There are certain life lessons that you can only learn in the struggle.” – Idowu Koyenikan
- “And hard times are good in their own way, too. Because the only way you can achieve true happiness is if you experience true sadness as well.” – Gabrielle Williams
- “If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” – H.G. Wells
- “Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” – Steve Maraboli
- “Any sort of major change we want to make in our life is hard. Change is not easy and true change takes time and takes thousands, millions probably, of failures along that path and that's the interesting thing.” – Cory Barlog
- “We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa
- “Roadblocks are pathway to your glorious destiny. Don't push them away. Embark on them.” – Hiral Nagda
- “We all have battles to fight. And it's often in those battles that we are most alive: it's on the frontlines of our lives that we earn wisdom, create joy, forge friendships, discover happiness, find love, and do purposeful work.” – Eric Greitens
We all have battles to fight. And it's often in those battles that we are most alive: it's on the frontlines of our lives that we earn wisdom, create joy, forge friendships, discover happiness, find love, and do purposeful work.” – Eric Greitens
- “Use what you’ve been through as fuel, believe in yourself and be unstoppable!” – Yvonne Pierre
- “Some people have an easier road, a shorter road. I have a longer road. So, at the end of the day, life is hard for everybody.” – Marlon Vera
- “The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.” – Marjorie Pay Hinckley
- “No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.” – Greg Kincaid
- “Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill
- “Difficulties are part of life, overcoming them is divine.” – Lailah Gifty Akita
- “Life wasn't easy growing up; it was frustrating. If I had been a better reader, then that would have come easily, sports would have come easily, everything would have come easily, and I never would have realized that the way you get ahead in life is hard work.” – Caitlyn Jenner
- “It's the difficult years that makes you ready for a phenomenal life.” – Hiral Nagda
- “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
- “When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else.” – Iyanla Vanzant
- “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
- “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
- “No one escapes pain, fear, and suffering. Yet from pain can come wisdom, from fear can come courage, from suffering can come strength – if we have the virtue of resilience.” – Eric Greitens
- “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” – Duke Ellington
- “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
- “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong… I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” – Audrey Hepburn
Final Thoughts on Life Being Hard
There’s no easy option with life. We all face difficult days. And we all wonder how we’re going to get through it.
But somehow, we always find the strength to push through and come out stronger on the other side. We learn to adapt, to find solutions. We discover ways to keep going no matter what.
And most importantly, we unveil countless reasons to smile along the way.
For more inspirational quotes, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 51 Do What Makes You Happy Quotes
- 31 Best Life is Messy Quotes and Sayings
- 77 Humble Quotes to Stay Grounded in Life
- 75 Life is Too Short Quotes to Savor Every Moment
- 61 Believe in Yourself Quotes When You're in Doubt
- 67 Motivational Tony Robbins Quotes on Success and Life
Finally, if you want to use these quotes to make a lasting change to your life, then check out and recite these 57 affirmations for success.
