Nothing can cut quite as deep as the pain of a broken heart. When we open ourselves up to love another person, we make ourselves vulnerable to rejection or loss.
It’s in these difficult moments that many turn to philosophy for wisdom and perspective.
The Stoics had a lot to say about managing emotions, particularly the tumult that follows the end of a relationship.
Rather than wallowing in self-pity, the Stoics urge us to reflect on what’s within our control and what isn’t.
They remind us that while we can’t force others to stay, we have power over how we respond.
I’ve gathered some of the best Stoic quotes about getting over heartbreak in this post.
These timeless ideas on love, sadness, and feeling better can help anyone going through a breakup.
Read on for wise words from thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius about healing, hope, and moving forward. Here are the other stoic quotes on heartbreak.
Stoic Quotes on Heartbreak & Acceptance
Here are some Stoic quotes from some of the most famous Stoic philosophers on acceptance and heartbreak.
Quotes from Seneca
#1. “He suffers more than necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.” – Seneca
#2. “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca
#3. “No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity.” – Seneca
#4. “It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it.” – Seneca
#5. “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” – Seneca
#6. “We are more often frightened than hurt, and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” – Seneca
Quotes from Epictetus
#7. “It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” – Epictetus
#9. “Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will—then your life will flow well.” – Epictetus
#10. “The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.” – Epictetus
#11. “The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” – Epictetus
#12. “Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves.” – Epictetus
#13. “Do not try to seem wise to others. If you want to live a wise life, live it on your own terms and in your own eyes.” – Epictetus
Quotes from Marcus Aurelius
#14. “The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius
#15. “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius
#16. “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” – Marcus Aurelius
#17. “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” – Marcus Aurelius
#18. “The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.” – Marcus Aurelius
Stoic Quotes on Being Alone
Dealing with a breakup can be difficult, especially when one is faced with the reality of being alone after having had a partner to navigate life with.
Here are some Stoic quotes on being alone that may provide perspective and comfort during this challenging time:
#19. “Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.” – Marcus Aurelius
#20. “Solitude and company may be allowed to take their turns: the one creates in us the love of mankind, the other that of ourselves; solitude relieves us when we are sick of company, and conversation when we are weary of being alone so that the one cures the other. There is no man so miserable as he that is at a loss how to use his time.”
#21. “He who is able to live alone, and still prefers to live with others, is sociable. He who can live alone, and yet prefers to live alone, is either a beast or a god.” – Aristotle
#22. “The most important relationship we can all have is the one you have with yourself, the most important journey you can take is one of self-discovery.” -Aristotle
Other Stoic Quotes
Here are some additional stoic quotes you may find interesting:
Conclusion
I hope you found helpful insights into the Stoic perspective on dealing with a broken heart. Going through a breakup is tough, but those ancient philosophers provide wise words for coping with the emotional turmoil.
These quotes show how developing wisdom, changing your mindset, and focusing on your strength rather than relying on others can help lessen the pain over time.
Reflecting on their wise words provides comfort and guidance during this challenging period. Draw strength from within and believe you will get through this in time. You’ve got this!