Imagine feeling drained, like the energy has been pulled from your very core. We’ve all been there, used by someone we trusted. It cuts deep, leaving a lasting impact on our hearts and minds.
This article brings together quotes that capture those exact feelings. These words resonate with anyone who’s felt taken for granted. They help us make sense of the hurt and find solace in the shared human experience.
Quotes on Feeling Exploited
“The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.” – Unknown
“Sometimes you need to be strong for yourself. You need to know that you’re a good person and a good friend. What’s meant to be will end up good and what’s not – won’t. Love is worth fighting for, but sometimes you can’t be the only one fighting.” – Unknown
“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is end up with people that make you feel all alone.” – Robin Williams
“It’s a shame when the things that are on your mind, make their way to your mouth causing you to look and feel so numb.” – Unknown
“When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.” – Donald Miller
“People are lonely in this world for lots of different reasons. Some people have something in their disposition, or their looks, or something, that draws everybody’s fire, everybody’s contempt.” – J.D. Salinger
“There comes a time when you have to stop crossing oceans for people who wouldn’t even jump puddles for you.” – Unknown
“Manipulative people do not understand the concept of boundaries. They are relentless in the pursuit of what they want, and they have no regard for who gets hurt along the way.” – Unknown
“You don’t have to let that shoulder rot off just because they refuse to give you one to cry on.” – Sarahjael
“Be careful what you tolerate. You are teaching people how to treat you.” – Unknown
“You never really see how toxic someone is until you breathe fresher air.” – Unknown
“It’s amazing how quickly someone can become a stranger.” – Unknown
“He who allows himself to be insulted, deserves to be.” – Pierre Corneille
“When people treat you like they don’t care, believe them.” – Unknown
“It’s brutal how quickly the cracks form when someone you love starts to become a ghost.” – Sarahjael
“If they do it often, it isn’t a mistake; it’s just their behavior.” – Steve Maraboli
“Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.” – Osho
“People wear masks of lies so that they look attractive, so be careful.” – Muhammad Saqib
“It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.” – George Washington
“Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give, and nobody will care for you.” – Karl Lagerfeld
“It’s funny how the people who know the least about you always have the most to say.” – Auliq Ice
“Sometimes those who say they care for you the most are the ones who use you up the most.” – Sarahjael
“At some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.” – Unknown
“Sometimes you just have to remove people without warning. We’re getting too old to be explaining what they already know they’re doing wrong.” – Unknown
Quotes on Self-Worth and Being Used
“Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.” – Haruki Murakami
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou
“The moment you feel you have to prove your worth to someone is the moment to absolutely and utterly walk away.” – Alysia Harris
“It is better to be alone than being with someone who makes you feel alone.” – Robin Williams
“Don’t sacrifice your peace trying to point out someone’s true colors. Lack of character always reveals itself in the end.” – Mandy Hale
“Being used is the abuse of your own self-worth. Empower yourself by knowing your true value.” – Unknown
“If you don’t know your worth, people will put a cheap price tag on you.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
“We are what we believe we are.” – C.S. Lewis
“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” – Michel de Montaigne
“You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.” – Tony Gaskins
“They laugh at me because I’m different; I laugh at them because they’re all the same.” – Kurt Cobain
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” – Oscar Wilde
“Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, and don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.” – Mary Schmich
“If someone treats you like an option, leave them like a choice.” – Unknown
“Sometimes you have to walk away from what you want to find what you deserve.” – Unknown
“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” – C. JoyBell C.
“You cannot be used by someone unless you let them.” – Unknown
“Know your worth. Don’t ask for it; state it and never accept anything less.” – Unknown
“You deserve to be with somebody who makes you happy. Somebody who doesn’t complicate your life. Somebody who won’t hurt you.” – Unknown
“Don’t let someone who doesn’t know your worth define it for you.” – Unknown
“There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
“Stop giving your energy to people who don’t matter.” – Unknown
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs
“Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” – Ted Rubin
Quotes on Recognizing Toxic Relationships
“The hardest part isn’t leaving. It’s recognizing that you deserve more.” – Unknown
“You don’t ever have to feel guilty about removing toxic people from your life.” – Unknown
“Not everyone who wants to hang out with you cares about you; some are only using you for their own gain.” – William Chapman
“You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor
“Just because someone desires you, it does not mean that they value you.” – Nayyirah Waheed
“Sometimes the person you would take a bullet for is the one standing behind the trigger.” – Taylor Swift
“You’re not a backup plan for somebody’s convenience; you are a priority for someone who values you.” – Unknown
“Cutting people out of your life doesn’t mean you hate them, it simply means you respect yourself.” – Unknown
“It’s better to be alone than to be with someone who makes you feel alone.” – Robin Williams
“Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.” – Aubrey de Grey
“Recognize the difference between being wanted and being valued.” – Charles Dickens
“If they only care when it’s convenient for them, they aren’t your friend.” – Unknown
“True love will never make you feel used. If they love you, they’ll treat you well.” – Unknown
“Some of the most poisonous people come disguised as friends and family.” – Unknown
“Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie.” – Russian Proverb
“Toxic people will pollute everything around them. Don’t hesitate. Fumigate.” – Mandy Hale
“The only way out of a toxic relationship is to recognize it and then leave it.” – Unknown
“Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.” – Robert Tew
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” – Maya Angelou
“It’s a lot easier to see the truth when it’s too late.” – Eminem
“No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level. Just know you’re better and walk away.” – Unknown
“Don’t trust the person who has broken faith once.” – William Shakespeare
“Toxic relationships are like a good pasta that has been overcooked.” – Asa Don Brown
“You don’t need someone who makes you feel low. You need someone who lifts you up.” – Oprah Winfrey
Quotes for Healing from Being Used
“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” — Hubert H. Humphrey
“When people treat you like they don’t care, believe them.” — Unknown
“The pain of being used can last a lifetime, but so too can the strength you gain from surviving it.” — Original
“Don’t let the one who didn’t love you, keep you from the one who will.” — Unknown
“Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” — Zig Ziglar
“They’ll ignore you until they need you.” — Unknown
“Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.” — Steve Maraboli
“The best way to heal is to accept that you were used, learn from it, and then move on with a new resolve.” — Original
“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” — Unknown
“The worst feeling is being used by someone you trusted.” — Unknown
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” — Maya Angelou
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” — Henry David Thoreau
“Sometimes it takes being used to realize you deserve better.” — Original
“It’s sad when you realize you aren’t as important to someone as you thought you were.” — Unknown
“The only way to win with a toxic person is not to play.” — Unknown
“Healing is an art. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes love.” — Maza Dohta
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” — Lao Tzu
“Don’t waste your time on revenge. Those who hurt you will eventually face their own karma.” — Buddha
“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” — Guy Finley
“Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” — Nicole Sobon
“You were never too much. They were just never enough.” — Unknown
“The heart will break, but broken live on.” — Lord Byron
“Every time you thought you couldn’t keep moving, you did. Take that as strength, not something they took from you.” — Original
Quotes on Setting Boundaries
“Givers need to set limits because takers rarely do.” — Rachel Wolchin
“Your boundaries are your responsibility. You decide what is and isn’t allowed in your life.” — Unknown
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” — Brené Brown
“You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” — Anna Taylor
“Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.” — Doreen Virtue
“Just because someone desires you, doesn’t mean they value you. Read it again.” — Unknown
“Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions.” — Will Smith
“The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none.” — Unknown
“Sometimes you have to give yourself the space to be taken for granted, to see just who notices your absence.” — Unknown
“Don’t let people use you as a stepping stone, they will destroy your beautiful spirit.” — Unknown
“It’s not about being the bigger person all the time. Sometimes, it’s about setting the right boundaries.” — Unknown
“It is necessary, and even vital, to set standards for your life and the people you allow in it.” — Mandy Hale
“When you know your worth, you move differently.” — Unknown
“Being used is not a reflection of your character, but of the one who used you.” — Unknown
“There comes a time when you have to stop crossing oceans for people who wouldn’t even jump puddles for you.” — Unknown
“The moment you start to wonder if you deserve better, you do.” — Unknown
“You get what you tolerate. Demand respect and you’ll get it.” — Unknown
“If they don’t respect your boundaries, they’re asking you to respect their lack of respect.” — Unknown
“Sometimes the only way to heal our wounds is to forgive those who inflict them and set boundaries to avoid repeating the pain.” — Steve Maraboli
“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it.” — Unknown
“Boundaries are not walls; they are gates and fences that allow you to enjoy the beauty of your own garden.” — Lydia H. Hall
“Many of the problems we encounter in relationships are because we don’t set boundaries on what we will and will not accept.” — Unknown
“Setting boundaries is a form of self-love and self-respect.” — Unknown
Quotes on Moving Forward After Being Used
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” – Dalai Lama
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” – Mary Pickford
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
“The only thing you can do when you feel used is to build yourself up again and move forward, stronger than before.” – Unknown
“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” – Guy Finley
“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
“Every time you thought you couldn’t keep moving forward, you did. Take a moment to appreciate your strength.” – Karen Salmansohn
“You are more than what you have become, so break free and forge your own path.” – Original
“Sometimes it takes a heartbreak to shake us awake and help us see we are worth so much more than we’re settling for.” – Mandy Hale
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling
“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coelho
“Stop looking back at your past, it’s too late to change it, but you can change your future by moving forward.” – Unknown
“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” – Unknown
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
“Strength shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” – J.P. Morgan
“Life moves on and so should we.” – Spencer Johnson
“From every wound there is a scar, and every scar tells a story. A story that says, ‘I survived.'” – Craig Scott
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Conclusion
These quotes on being used offer powerful reminders about self-worth and the importance of setting boundaries. While it can be painful to feel taken advantage of, it’s a chance to learn and grow. These words inspire us to recognize our value and to stand up for ourselves.
Let these quotes guide you in building healthier relationships and stronger self-respect. Whenever you feel undervalued, revisit these quotes. They can offer comfort and strength. After all, everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.
