77 Rejection Quotes for When People Hurt You

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Feeling rejected is never a good time.

At some point in everyone’s life, we’re going to face the sting of being rejected by a potential lover, our peers, or even for a job that we thought was perfect for us.

So, if you’re feeling like life has dealt you a heavy blow, then these rejection quotes are here to soothe the pain a little bit and put you a step closer to your usual self.

Why Read Rejection Quotes

Did you know that Sylvester Stallone was rejected thousands of times in his mission to be an actor? The hit movie Rocky is today considered one of the greatest films ever made (and not just in the USA but across the world).

The take from this is that rejection isn’t great, but it can present itself as an opportunity. Some people feel rejected and hurt and let it defeat them, other people are well aware that just because someone says no doesn’t mean that everyone will.

In the meantime, our ego can take a real battering from rejection. This is especially true if you have a lot of your self-worth wrapped up in other people's approval.

Rejection can be a bitter experience for anyone involved and can unleash a cacophony of emotions that can be overwhelming to deal with. However, it’s also an opportunity to grow, and to look at things differently, and at some point, everyone needs a dose of rejection to mature properly.

These rejection quotes are here to help you dust yourself off, get back in the game and get the gloves back on – just like Rocky Balboa.

77 Rejection Quotes for When People Hurt You

1. “I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.” – Sylvester Stallone

2. “Rejection is always better than regret” – Anonymous

3. “I am not the richest, smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeed because I keep going and going and going.” – Sylvester Stallone

4. “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston

5. “I gave him my heart, and he took and pinched it to death; and flung it back to me. People feel with their hearts, Ellen, and since he has destroyed mine, I have not power to feel for him.” – Emily Brontë

6. “Any man of reasonable intelligence can make money if that’s what he wants. Mostly it’s women or clothes or admiration he really wants and they deflect him.” – John Steinbeck

7. “Rejection is a common occurrence. Learning that early and often will help you build up the tolerance and resistance to keep going and keep trying.” – Kevin Feige

8. “Without experiencing criticism and rejection in life, it would be impossible to grow or improve yourself.” – Mwanandeke Kindembo

9. “One does not hold their breath and say that they are breathing; Just the same, One cannot advance in life and remain the same.” – Gillian Duce

10. “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll

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11. “Because she is afraid of not being supported, she unknowingly pushes away the support she needs.” – John Gray

12. “A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” – Bo Bennett

13. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

14. “Sometimes even if you meet people where they are they will still reject you and that's okay. It takes more time for healing and self-discovery for some than it does for others. ” – Germany Kent

15. “Should your friend dismiss you, Do not be disheartened: Today he rejects you, Tomorrow he'll relent.” – Rumi

16. “The more I risk being rejected, the better my chances are of being accepted.” – Robert T. Kiyosaki

17. “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” – Theodore Roosevelt

18. “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” – Og Mandino

19. “If they reject you because you're different from them, then they're the ones with issues.” – Mitta Xinindlu

20. “Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the furthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness: a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow.” – Stephen Colbert

Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the furthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness: a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow.” – Stephen Colbert

21. “Life is not about how hard of a hit you can give…It’s about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward” – Sylvester Stallone

22. “The Actor's Prayer – Great Baachus, spare us from the demon Rejection! And harsh critics, incompetent make-up artists, ill-fitting costumes, tight shoes, screaming children, corpsing and a visit from the welfare officer.” – Stewart Stafford

23. “I don’t regret anything I’ve ever done in life, any choice that I’ve made. But I’m consumed with regret for the things I didn’t do, the choices I didn’t make, the things I didn’t say.” – Trevor Noah

24. “Rejection just motivates me to keep trying and to try to do better.” – Sasha Grey

25. “Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” – Swami Sivananda

26. “In life you'll get 100s of rejections, just you need 1 yes to forget the remaining. So never stop moving on.” – Shubhankar Mishra

27. “A rejection may cause pain. However, it's not a failure; it shows the reality and other ways too.” – Ehsan Sehgal

28. “We don’t have to take rejection as a reflection of our self-worth. If somebody who is important (or even someone unimportant) to you rejects you or your choices, you are still real, and you are still worth every bit as much as you would be if you had not been rejected.” – Melody Beattie

29. “Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They'll stay faithful as long as its safe and doesn't involve risk, rejection, or criticism.” – Charles Stanley

30. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C. S. Lewis

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31. “If one feels rejected by God… Then one isn't listening.” – Bert McCoy

32. “If at first you think it’s rejection, it’s probably actually new found freedom.” – Emilyann Allen

33. “Feel any feelings that go with rejection; talk about your thoughts; but don’t forfeit your self-esteem to another’s disapproval or rejection of who you are or what you have done.” – Melody Beattie

34. “I have learned not to allow rejection to move me.” – Cicely Tyson

35. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” – William Shakespeare

36. “You have to be prepared that some opportunities will work out and others won't, and that's ok. You can’t win everywhere. The more opportunities you get, the more rejections you will receive. It's simply a numbers game.” – Jen Alvares

37. “You have to take all the rejections that life will throw at you. We do not grow in happiness, but we grow in sadness. Each rejection teaches us something new.” – Avijeet Das

38. “Even if the most important person in your world rejects you, you are still real, and you are still okay.” – Melody Beattie

39. “Take rejection as an eye-opener. Take it as something that pushes you and makes you do things better.” – Amit Sadh

40. “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” – Aristotle

41. “Rejection and adversity can upgrade your life because they push you, challenge you, and make you rise up to another level.” – Germany Kent

42. “In a world with over seven billion people rejection just means next!” – Kevin Darné

43. “Don’t reject yourself, and don’t give so much power to other people’s rejection of you. It isn’t necessary.” – Melody Beattie

44. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

45. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

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46. “Those who rejected you were preparing you for those who would accept you.” – Matshona Dhliwayo

47. “The right people will appreciate you, but the wrong ones never will.” – Wayne Gerard Trotman

48. “Rejection is an opportunity for your selection.” – Bernard Branson

49. “Ghostings a horrible thing, isnt it? It doesnt feel good, it feels like a rejection. And whats more, it feels like a rejection where theres no closure.” – Matthew Hussey

50. “Get use to rejection. No one starts from the bottom with applause or the word yes being heard often.” – Nicky Verd

51. “Rejection is the friend you never knew you needed. It usually saves you time and money.” – Kevin Darné

52. “No” is a word that must never be negotiated, because the person who chooses not to hear it is trying to control you.” – Gavin de Becker

53. “A man who rejects you is simply clearing the way for the One you deserve.” – Naide P Obiang

54. “Rejection leads to redirection.” – Lailah Gifty Akita

55. “If you have done something inappropriate or you need to solve a problem or change a behavior, then take appropriate steps to take care of yourself. But don’t reject yourself, and don’t give so much power to other people’s rejection of you. It isn’t necessary.” – Melody Beattie

If you have done something inappropriate or you need to solve a problem or change a behavior, then take appropriate steps to take care of yourself. But don’t reject yourself, and don’t give so much power to other people’s rejection of you. It isn’t necessary.” – Melody Beattie

56. “You don't realize it at the time, but some of life's roadblocks, detours, and rejections are answered prayers.” – Steve Maraboli

57. “To be set aside is to be rejected. To be set apart is to be given an assignment that requires preparation.” – Lysa TerKeurst

58. “Most fears of rejection rest on the desire for approval from other people. Don’t base your self-esteem on their opinions.” – Harvey Mackay

59. “Your soulmate is not the person who rejected you.” – Daniel V Chappell

60. “I do not lack the courage to tell you how I feel. What I fear is how you will react to it.” – Bram Stoker

61. “If you arent ready for rejection, you arent ready for love.” – Marty Rubin

62. “A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” – Bo Bennett

63. “There will always be disappointments and rejection in this game but that's part of the writing journey, and everyone's journey is different.” – Sean Clarke

64. “That fatal May morning when Geneviève murmured, ‘I love you, but I think I love Boris best,’ told on me at last. I had never imagined that it could become more than I could endure. Outwardly tranquil, I had deceived myself.” – Robert W. Chambers

65. “Even though a “YES” sounds better sometimes a “NO” is more important.” – Sope Agbelusi

66. “When a door is slammed shut in your face, don't stand there twiddling your fingers, begging. Open your eyes, look around. There are countless doors waiting to let you in.” –  Adaora O

67. “Rejection, though-it could make the loss of someone you werent even that crazy about feel gut wrenching and world ending.” – Deb Caletti

68. “Human rejection can be God’s divine protection.” – Paula Hendricks

69. “O you free spirits, they will mock you, malign you, reject you: it will only make you more independent.” – Marty Rubin

70. “Often, out of our greatest rejection comes our greatest direction.” Joel Osteen

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71. “What was this? Rejection? Was it really this tangible? All I could think about was that if I could be hurt like this then surely I could also cause it in others. This consoled me.” – Anonymous

72. “I think all great innovations are built on rejections.” – Louise Berliawsky Nevelson

73. “We all learn lessons in life. Some stick, some don’t. I have always learned more from rejection and failure than from acceptance and success.” – Henry Rollins

74. “Due to the trauma, we experience the fear of rejection, inadequacy, and/or the fear of powerlessness itself.” – Kenny Weiss

75. “We throw out a shirt or blouse because of one stain. We sometimes make the same mistake with people.” – Marty Rubin

76. “Successful people reject rejection.” – John C. Maxwell

77. “Rejection—It may be a delay. It may be a distraction. It may even be a devastation for a season but it is not your final destination.” – Lysa TerKeurst

Final Thoughts on Rejection Quotes

That brings us to the end of our compilation. We hope these rejection quotes get you back on your feet and can help you understand that rejection is part of the journey of life – every single one of us will face it multiple times.

Sometimes a shift in your perspective can make a surprising difference – check out these 109 growth mindset affirmations and statements and don’t let rejection and bumps in the road derail your journey to a more fulfilling life.

And if you want more inspirational quotes, be sure to check out these blog posts:

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.

Tom Smith is a creative writer with over 6 years of professional experience. He discovered the joy of writing after covering some furniture in his childhood home with graffiti. In later years, he got himself a BA in creative writing and hasn’t looked back. After discovering the power of positive thinking and discovering the spiritual side of life, he believes it's a huge privilege to be able to write about all things personal development.

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